ASW 24 spins in low thermal turn; second stall at top of pull-out

The pilot of an ASW 24 was fatally injured after the glider spun from a steepening low thermal turn, was partly recovered, then stalled at the top of a pull-out and impacted at 70-80° nose-down; destroyed. The pilot — 253 h total, 26 launches on type — had winch-launched at 16:48; at ~200 m AGL he joined a right circle behind two gliders. The bank steepened; the ASW dropped off right into a spin. After ~2 turns he stopped it near the ground, pulled up to ~30-50 m toward a poplar line; the glider stalled again and impacted a meadow ~400 m NE of the RWY 08 threshold. Wind 30-40 km/h gusty; broken thermals (80-120 km/h swings). No tech faults.

1. Winch launch + return to thermal: Winch launch at 16:48 from Gießen-Wieseck for a local private flight; pilot returned near the field at ~200-250 m AGL to try to join thermal lift behind two gliders above.
2. Strong, gusty wind + broken thermals: Wind 30-40 km/h with stronger gusts and strong but broken thermals; other pilots reported airspeed swings 80-120 km/h.
3. Steepening right circle, drop-off: At ~200 m AGL the pilot entered a right circle with progressively steeper bank; the ASW 24 dropped off to the right and departed controlled flight.
4. Steep right spin: A steep right spin developed, with rapid loss of height.
5. Spin stopped near the ground: After ~2 turns the pilot stopped the spin already close to the ground and initiated a pull-out toward the field and a line of poplars.
6. Steep pull-up then second stall: The glider was pulled up steeply to about treetop height (30-50 m); at the top of the climb it stalled again before a spin could redevelop.
7. Nose-down impact 400 m NE of threshold: At 16:54 the ASW 24 impacted a meadow ~400 m NE of the RWY 08 threshold at 70-80° nose-down pitch. Pilot fatally injured, airframe destroyed. No technical faults; no autopsy performed.