Paramedics were called to the crash site about 100 metres east of the rural airstrip at about 3.20pm after reports of a downed aircraft in the area.Police said both occupants, a man in his 50s and a 21-year-old woman, were killed.
Paramedics unsuccessfully performed CPR on the man who later died on the scene. It’s believed he was instructing the woman, a student pilot, who died on impact. It's believed the glider was being towed by a plane at the time.
A witness associated with the Grampians Soaring Club said the glider nose-dived shortly after take off."The aircraft is demolished. It would take a lot of people to pick up the pieces. It's very devastating," he said.
Some witnesses reportedly heard an explosion-type sound from the aircraft although the cause of the crash is still a mystery. Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Other glider accidents in Benalla earlier this year saw two men taken to hospital with back and pelvis injuries. In a separate accident, an 80-year-old woman was seriously injured when her glider was dragged 30 metres.
Police have confirmed a second person has died as the result of a glider crash in Ararat this afternoon.
A 21 year old woman and a man believed to be aged in his 50s, both died at the scene.
The glider they were in crashed at the Ararat Airfield at 3.20pm.
Police on-scene said the glider was being towed into the air by another aircraft, when at approximately 200 feet, it disconnected "for unknown reasons" and crashed.
Emergency services including police, ambulance, fire and rescue units attended the airfield within minutes.
Police say the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will also join the investigation.
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Two people died after a glider crashed during take-off in Victoria's southwest.
A 21-year-old woman died immediately in the crash at 3.20pm (AEST) on Sunday.
A man, believed to be in his 50s, died at the scene before paramedics could get him to a hospital.
Police say the glider crashed about 100m from the Ararat airfield.
A witness told AAP the glider had been towed by an aircraft and there was no obvious reason for the crash.
"We were watching them take off and there's nothing that we could identify that is the cause of the accident," said the man, who did not wish to be identified.
"It's a mystery."
http://www.abc.net.au
The scene of the glider crash at Ararat airfield.
