Club Libelle drops a wing off a slow winch launch at 50 m

The pilot of a Club Libelle was fatally injured when the glider dropped a wing on a slow winch launch and struck the ground; the glider was destroyed. On a familiarization flight with a type he had flown for only about seven minutes over two launches, the low-time pilot began a winch launch. In the initial climb the glider drifted left; the launch was too slow and the winch driver was told to speed up. From about 50 m the glider dropped its left wing and hit the ground almost vertically. A control check found no defect; a possible cable break could not be examined.

1. Winch familiarization launch: A low-time pilot began a winch launch at Riedlingen to familiarize himself with the Club Libelle, a type he had flown for only about seven minutes.
2. Slow launch, drift left: In the initial climb the glider drifted left; the launch was too slow and the winch driver was told to speed up.
3. Left wing drops at 50 m: From about 50 m the glider dropped its left wing.
4. Near-vertical impact: It hit the ground almost vertically and was destroyed; the pilot was fatally injured. No technical defect was found; a possible cable break could not be examined.