Pilot injured in glider crash drama (From Swindon Advertiser)

Pilot injured in glider crash drama

6:10pm Sunday 25th November 2007 in

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A GLIDER pilot and passenger had a lucky escape after crashing just inches from a road.

The crash happened at the Vale of the White Horse Gliding Club, Sandhill Farm, Shrivenham just after 3pm on Saturday.

Sandhill Farm is just off the B4000 Highworth Road, just west of the A420 as it passes Shrivenham.

The passenger, a gliding student in his fifties, from London, was airlifted to hospital with suspected leg injuries.

The pilot, in his thirties, and from the Swindon area, escaped with just cuts and bruises.

Four fire engines from Oxfordshire Fire Service and one from Stratton raced to the scene but were not needed because the aircraft was not at risk of fire as it was not engine propelled.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Fire Service said: "In cases where an aircraft is reported to have crashed we must account for the fact that fuel may be on board posing a risk of fire or spill."

Gliders have no engines because they fly on thermal wind currents without the use of fuel.

He added: "In this case we were told early on it was a glider but were called to support appliances from Oxford."

An investigation is now underway by aviation specialists as to how the incident happened.

Club chairman Paul Graham said: "An investigation has been launched by the British Glider Association into how the glider came to crash.

"Thankfully no-one was seriously injured. But our thoughts are with the student who had to go to hospital."

The glider club had been due to hold its annual meeting at the site, at 4pm on Saturday.