ASK 23 student bails out too low to deploy parachute after unexplained flight profile

An ASK 23 student on a 50 km solo XC test was fatally injured after bailing out at 100-200 m AGL with the parachute partly opened. After 30 min of normal thermalling, witnesses saw the ASK 23 leave a thermal near the first turnpoint very fast with severe wing flexing; barograph: 200 m drop, then winch-like climb. At 100-200 m AGL the canopy was jettisoned; the pilot bailed out after two left circles, three line bays still folded. The unmanned ASK 23 rolled inverted (CG far aft) onto a winter-garden roof; substantial damage. Radio was on 118.15 MHz (not the home 123.15 MHz); its battery was missing. No technical faults; cause not determined.

1. Winch launch + solo 50 km XC test: 48y student pilot (~56 h total, 60 launches / 12 h on ASK 23) winch-launched from Stüde-Bernsteinsee at 10:55 for a 50 km solo triangle as XC test for PPL.
2. Radio battery missing from wreckage: The dry battery powering the radio could not be found at the wreckage despite extensive search; the radio was tuned to 118.15 MHz (not the 123.15 MHz home-airfield frequency).
3. Unexplained extreme flight profile: Near the first turnpoint another pilot saw the ASK 23 leave a thermal at very high speed under severe wing flexing; the barograph then showed a 200 m loss followed by a winch-like climb.
4. Canopy jettisoned at 100-200 m AGL: In normal attitude and moderate speed at 100-200 m AGL the pilot used the emergency release to jettison the canopy (which then struck the fin in flight).
5. Pilot bails out after two left circles: Witnesses saw the glider fly two more left full circles before the pilot bailed out with his manual parachute.
6. Parachute opens partly; ground impact: Three line bays were still folded at landing; the partly-opened parachute could not slow him enough and he hit a flat meadow.
7. Pilot fatal; unmanned glider on building: With the CG far aft of limits the unmanned ASK 23 slowed, rolled inverted and came to rest 85 m from the pilot on a winter-garden roof; the glider was substantially damaged.