Janus lands hard short of the runway after its airbrakes open on the winch launch

Both pilots were uninjured, but the glider was substantially damaged, when it landed hard short of the runway after the airbrakes opened on a winch launch. Feeling resistance on the blue handle during the pre-takeoff checks, the front pilot left it short of the locked position, and neither pilot noticed. The airbrakes came out on the climb, and he twice asked the winch for more speed. After release at about 430 m the glider sank; the pilots turned back for the runway, the rear pilot taking the controls. Downwind at about 30 m he saw he was too low, turned toward mid-runway, and the glider touched down short of the paved strip in the turn.

1. Airbrakes left unlocked: During the pre-takeoff checks the front pilot met resistance on the blue airbrake handle and left it short of the locked position; the rear pilot did not catch it.
2. Airbrakes open on the climb: The airbrakes deployed during the winch climb, degrading the launch; the front pilot twice asked the winch operator for more speed.
3. Radio warning never got through: A pilot by the winch saw the airbrakes open and radioed the crew, but the message did not transmit, probably through misuse of the winch truck's radio.
4. Sinking after release: Released at about 430 m, the glider lost height with the airbrakes still out; neither pilot identified them, and the crew broke off to land.
5. Turn-back flown too low: The rear pilot took the controls and flew downwind for the runway; at about 30 m he saw he could not reach the threshold and turned toward mid-runway.
6. Hard landing short of the runway: The glider met the ground short of the paved runway during the turn and slid to a stop 65 m further on, substantially damaged; both pilots got out.