Glider stalls after an over-steep winch launch

A glider pitched up too steeply during a winch launch, stalled at low height and crashed, seriously injuring the pilot. Just after lift-off it reached about 60° nose-up; at around 40 m it dropped its right wing, the cable released automatically, and it struck the ground nose- and right-wing-first, destroyed. The single-seater was at its aftmost centre of gravity, carrying tail ballast that a light pilot was expected to offset, and a slight tailwind slowed the airspeed build-up, both making the launch more demanding. The pilot had little recent winch practice, having made one winch launch in the past year before a check flight that morning.

1. Winch launch, aftmost CoG: A single-seat glider began a winch launch on grass runway 08, at its aftmost centre of gravity and carrying tail ballast.
2. Light tailwind, low winch currency: A slight tailwind slowed the airspeed build-up, and the pilot had made only one winch launch in the previous year.
3. Over-steep climb transition (~60°): At the transition to the climb the glider pitched up to about 60° nose-up.
4. Stall and right wing drop at ~40 m: At about 40 m above the ground the glider stalled and dropped its right wing.
5. Throttle eased, cable auto-releases: The winch operator eased the throttle and the cable released automatically from the glider.
6. Strikes ground; pilot seriously hurt: The glider struck the ground nose- and right-wing-first and was destroyed; the pilot was seriously injured.