Pilot dies as glider crashes into field

Published on 05/08/2012 00:00

A PILOT has been killed 
after his glider crashed into a field in north-east
Scotland.

The man, who was in his fifties, died after his craft crash-landed at Roundyhill, on the outskirts of Forfar, yesterday.

Emergency services were called to Drumshade Farm, where the Angus Gliding School is based. The pilot was a member of the school.

Tayside Fire and Rescue Service said that it attended reports of a downed aircraft around 12.45pm but was stood down on arrival while police cordoned off the scene.

The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch has been notified and a team was scheduled to arrive last night to begin carrying out its own investigation.

Police examined the crash site yesterday.

Colin Wight, a club member and former instructor, told Scotland on Sunday that the members of the club were deeply saddened at the loss of their coll­eague, who he described as an experienced pilot.

He said: “All I can say is that the Air Accident Investigation Branch will be 
deploying a team here this evening to establish exactly what has happened.

“Obviously this is a difficult time, and club members are deeply shocked by this.

“This was a club member and an experienced pilot. The weather conditions were perfect and we’ve no idea what happened at this stage.”

Tayside Police said that they would release the name of the pilot once his next of kin had been informed.