Glider crash pics

[GrantR]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8001867/Pilot-escapes-glider-crash.html

[scottessex]

Dang! ....

[Scary Gary]

It's just the wing tip ! Whats the big deal ?

[scottessex]

Just the wing tip.....untill the rest of it hit the ground...

[GyroDoug]

It just makes me glad that Gyroplanes don't stall like that. He is very fortunate to be alive.

[Resasi]

Was there at the show with a friend when this one happened.

He was the opening item of the flight display. Weather was low cloud with intermittent rain moving through. Ceiling variable from around 800 to between 200'-400'

He was being towed along low above the runway along the flight line performing consecutive rolls with two other Twister aircraft formating on him. After about his fifth or sixth roll a large bow in the tow cable appeared. He released immediately performed a 180 to begin a close low right downwind. Did not look to be much above 250'

On the downwind he had a parallel motorway just to his left. Beyond the end of the runway a massive airshow car park which was full. He turned base then attempted a turn to final to the runway which he had to complete as having turned base he now had the crowd ahead of him.

It all happened very fast. Landing straight may well have been his best option but perhaps feeling he had enough height to do a circuit committed him into having to complete a second 180 which as the photos show ended badly.

The last turn had culminated in what looked like the beginning of a classic stall spin then a nose dive into the runway. The ambulance firetruck and a medivac chopper were there within a minute.

[BEN S]

Not much chance of burning on impact!
Ben S

[Scary Gary]

Good point Ben S.

[WaspAir]

Looks like the structure did a pretty darn good job of absorbing energy. The Swift is a purpose-built acro glider (not a cross-country soaring machine like most sailplanes) with lots of design compromises to improve its aerobatic performance, but it seems to have done a good job of pilot protection as well.