Pilot bails out of DG 600 unhurt after mushy pitch on winch launch

A pilot bailed out unhurt after the elevator on a DG 600 went mushy after winch release; the abandoned glider crashed onto a container garage and was heavily damaged. The pilot — ~700 h total but only 1 h on type and 4 winch launches in the last 90 days — reported pitch felt 'mushy' immediately after release while witnesses saw pump-like oscillations. Post-crash all control connections were found positively coupled and mass/CG within limits. Investigators reconstructed an elevator-coupling misrig that allowed the stabiliser to mount but restricted elevator travel — clearly detectable on a normal pre-flight control check.

1. Winch launch from grass strip: Glider rigged for the day with the pilot reporting a control check completed. Winch launch at 12:05 local from the grass area parallel to RWY 04/22, in light variable wind.
2. Very low recent type currency: About 700 h total but only 1 h on the DG 600 and 4 winch launches in the last 90 days — minimal feel for normal handling on this airframe.
3. Mushy pitch after winch release: Immediately after release the pilot reported the glider felt 'wachsweich' (mushy) in pitch and that normal handling was no longer possible.
4. Pump-like oscillations: Witnesses saw pump-like, oscillating flight movements after cable release, consistent with progressive loss of pitch control.
5. Pilot jettisons canopy and bails out: The pilot jettisoned the canopy, exited the glider and descended to the ground uninjured under his parachute.
6. Abandoned glider hits container garage: The unmanned glider crashed onto the roof of a container garage ~350 m NW of the runway; fuselage broken behind the wing root, wings partially severely damaged.
7. Reconstructed elevator misrig: Post-crash all connections were coupled, but investigators reconstructed an elevator position allowing the stabiliser to mount while restricting travel — detectable on a normal preflight.