Ka6 cartwheels after a wing-drop on the winch launch roll

The glider was substantially damaged, though the student pilot was unhurt, when it cartwheeled during a winch launch on his first flight in a single-seater. Lined up with a hand on the yellow release, he began the winch run; the wing runner let the left wing go at once, as usual for this light, fast-launching type. The right wing dropped straight away, and stick and rudder were not enough to level it. He pulled the release, but the first pull did not free the taut cable, so he pulled harder and released. By then the right wingtip had dug in; the glider pivoted around it, lifted about a metre and came down on its nose.

1. Winch launch, first solo on type: On his first flight in a single-seater, the student lined up on the unpaved runway for a winch launch, a hand on the yellow release as briefed.
2. Wing runner releases at once: As the run began the wing runner let the left wing go immediately, standard for this light, fast-launching type.
3. Right wing drops on the roll: The right wing dropped straight away; the student's stick and rudder inputs were not enough to bring the wings level.
4. Release pull fails first time: He pulled the yellow release, but it needed more force against the taut cable; the first pull did not free it, so he pulled again.
5. Wingtip digs in: Before the cable came free the right wingtip touched the ground and deformed, jamming the aileron, and the glider left the runway axis.
6. Cartwheel onto the nose: The glider pivoted around the wingtip, lifted about a metre and came down on its nose at the runway edge, substantially damaged.