Fatal winch launch accident at Schönebeck: SZD-30 Pirat picks up second cable

During a winch launch at Schönebeck-Zackmünde, the glider picked up a second winch cable with its tail, leading to a crash. The pilot attempted to land crosswind but was unable to maintain control, resulting in a fatal impact. Contributing factors included insufficient separation of the winch cables and a pre-existing damage to the tail, which allowed the cable to become entangled. The investigation highlighted the need for better cable management and pre-flight checks to prevent similar incidents.