Club Astir pilot stalls at 15 m after over-rotating on the winch in a shifting wind

The pilot was seriously injured and the Club Astir CS Jeans destroyed when it stalled about 15 m above the grass runway at Innsbruck and dropped its right wing. After a short ground run the glider lifted off, stayed nearly level for a moment, then abruptly pitched into a very steep climb before the wings stalled and it struck the ground nose and right wing first. The winch ran faultlessly, nothing indicated a pre-existing technical defect, and mass and balance were within limits. The wind at launch reached 20 kt and shifted through 180 degrees. The pilot had about 44 hours in gliders and 1 hour 22 minutes on the type from 9 launches.

1. Winch launch on the grass runway: The glider was set up on the grass runway and the cable hooked on, and the winch driver accelerated to full power. The pilot could not recall the flight, which was reconstructed from eyewitnesses.
2. Wind 20 kt, shifting 180 degrees: The wind at launch reached 20 kt and shifted through 180 degrees. The agency recorded it among the probable causes.
3. Abrupt pitch into a steep climb: After a short ground run the glider lifted off and stayed nearly level, then abruptly took a very steep climb attitude instead of easing into the climb.
4. Stall at about 15 m AGL: The abrupt increase in angle of attack stalled the wings and the glider dropped over its right wing.
5. Nose and right wing hit the ground: The glider struck the airfield nose and right wing first and was destroyed. The pilot was seriously injured.