What happened
On 7 July 2022, a DG-300 Elan glider, registration G-CKJH, was participating in a gliding competition near Long Mynd Airfield. As the flying day neared its end, the pilot decided to land in a field near Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, rather than returning to the launch site.
During the final approach, the pilot selected a pasture field. However, the pilot did not fully realize the steepness of the terrain or the roughness of the surface until the landing was already underway. The aircraft touched down heavily on the upward slope, causing the glider to bounce and strike a stock fence. The impact was severe enough to cause the lower fuselage to strike the ground and the main landing gear to be forced back into its well.
Following the impact, the pilot managed to exit the cockpit through a broken canopy. Despite being able to move a short distance, the pilot soon experienced paralysis. A landowner discovered the pilot and summoned an air ambulance. While the pilot initially regained some sensation, complications from a spinal injury and existing medical conditions led to his death 20 days later.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the wreckage of the DG-300 Elan and recovered flight data from an IGC logger and a FLARM unit. The investigation noted that the pilot's electronic flight computer had stopped recording approximately 40 minutes before the accident.
Investigators analyzed the terrain, noting the field had a significant 20% upslope. They also reviewed the pilot's medical history, specifically a long-term condition known as ankylosing spondylitis, which causes spinal inflammation and bone fusion. The investigation also considered environmental factors, including the position of the sun and the potential for dehydration during the warm afternoon.