Accident occurred Sunday, December 04, 2016 in Husbands Bosworth, United Kingdom
Aircraft: PZL BIELSKO SZD51, registration:
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Uninjured.
Accident occurred Sunday, December 04, 2016 in Husbands Bosworth, United Kingdom
Aircraft: CESSNA 150, registration:
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Uninjured.
The foreign authority was the source of this information.
On December 4, 2016, about 1230 coordinated universal time, a PZL Bielsko SZD-51-1 glider, G-CSFT, and a Cessna 150L airplane, G-CSFC, collided in midair near Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire, United Kingdom. The glider impacted terrain and the pilot was fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage and landed at a nearby airport.
The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the government of the United Kingdom. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the United Kingdom. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:
Farnborough House
Berkshire Copse Road
Aldershot, Hampshire
GU11 2HH, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1252 510300
Fax: +44 (0)1252 376999
https://www.aaib.gov.uk
The pilot who died after his glider crashed following a suspected mid-air collision with a light aircraft has been named as John Christopher Armstrong.
The Leicester and South Leicestershire coroner's office said an inquest into the death of the 70-year-old is to be opened tomorrow.
Mr Armstrong, known as Chris, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, was pronounced dead at the scene after his glider crashed into a field between the villages of Mowsley and Lubenham, near Market Harborough, on Sunday.
The glider crashed landed in a field off Laughton Road at about 12.40pm.
Officers for Leicestershire Police and the Air accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are carrying out a joint inquiry.
A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Police said: "Emergency services were called out to an area off Laughton Road, in Lubenham, at about 1pm, following reports of a glider having landed in the field.
"Officers from Leicestershire Police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch are conducting an investigation to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
"From initial inquiries carried out at the scene, officers believe the glider had been in collision with a light aircraft prior to coming down in the fields.
"It has been confirmed that the light aircraft went on to land safely. The man on board the glider was pronounced dead at the scene."
A glider which crashed into a field after a mid-air collision with a light aircraft "fell like a leaf" said an eyewitness.
The crash happened yesterday in a field off Laughton Road, in Lubenham, near Market Harborough, at about 12.40pm.
The man on board the glider was pronounced dead at the scene.
Melvyn Forman, 64, of Husbands Bosworth, was spending a day boating on the canal when he spotted planes in the sky.
He said: "I had seen several light aircraft buzzing about overhead.
"I thought they were models - I know there is a club near Gumley. I did not take much notice.
"That was what threw me, having so many aircrafts in the air at the same time flying low - they don't tend to do that, unless they are models."
He said he had seen three or four flying above.
"I happened to see one at the corner of my eye fall from the sky.
"It fell like a leaf.
"It was spiralling down, certainly not in control.
"If I had realised it was an aircraft I would have taken more notice.
"It is difficult to judge the size of these models, because they are quite big. I was a good quarter of a mile away from it.
"It went down behind the trees. and high hedges."
Melvyn was on the Grand Union Canal, Leicester line, heading towards Foxton from Husbands Bosworth at the time.
He said he suddenly realised it was serious when he saw an air ambulance not long afterwards.
"When you realise someone must have been in it, it shakes you up."
He then continued along the canal and came upon the crash site 10 or 15 minutes later.
"Then I got around the corner and there it was at the side of the canal in the field.
"By that time, the air ambulance had arrived, and the paramedics were gathered around the crash site.
"The plane was in a crumpled heap. The tail was up in the air and the wings were all broken. It had obviously come straight down.
"As soon as I saw it, I knew it was a glider and assumed whoever was in it had not got out.
"I felt helpless."
An investigation into the crash is being carried out by both Leicestershire Police and The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said yesterday: "Officers from Leicestershire Police is conducting an investigation into the incident. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is also conducting an independent investigation to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. From initial inquiries carried out at the scene, officers believe the glider had been in collision with a light aircraft prior to coming down in the fields. It has been confirmed that the light aircraft went on to land safely."
The Laughton Road was closed, from its junction with the A4304 to Bunkers Hill after the crash yesterday, and it was opened overnight. The same stretch of road was closed again from 7am this morning, so further inquiries can be conducted.
A spokesman from the AAIB said they have a full team on-site investigating and the wreckage is likely to be there for another two or three days, while inquiries continue.
"It will take two or three days of our investigations on site, before we move it.
"Then we would move it to our hanger in Farnborough.
"That may be tomorrow, or possibly Wednesday."
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