Aircraft and Pilot Information
The accident involved a Vickers Slingsby T65A Vega glider, registration G-EECK, manufactured in 1979 (serial no. 1917). The pilot, aged 70, held an Other licence and had accumulated 212 hours of flying experience, of which 64 hours were on type. His recent flying activity included 5 hours in the last 90 days and 3 hours in the last 28 days.
History of the Flight
On 13 October 2021 at 1216 UTC, the glider was being prepared for a private flight from grass Runway 28 at Portmoak Airfield, Scotlandwell, Kinross. The wind was from approximately 290° at 8 kt. The pilot was unable to lock the canopy from the seated position due to his stature and the use of a seat back. He normally relied on a syndicate partner to close and lock the canopy and confirm it was secure. On the day of the accident, the syndicate partner was unavailable, so the pilot asked a gliding club member for assistance and briefed him on the canopy locking procedure.
During pre-flight preparation, both the pilot and the assistant became distracted by conversation. As a result, the pilot did not complete his cockpit checks correctly, and the assistant did not complete the canopy locking procedure. The pilot, however, believed the canopy was locked when it was closed.
The glider was launched by winch. Shortly after takeoff, at approximately 300 ft above ground level (agl), the canopy began to bounce up and down, indicating it was not locked. At about 500 ft agl, the pilot released the winch cable and levelled the glider, intending to make an abbreviated circuit and land halfway down Runway 28.
Accident Sequence
To prevent the canopy from detaching and possibly damaging the empennage, the pilot opened the left side panel window and pressed down on the canopy’s lower rim with his right hand. This required him to cross his arms in front of him while controlling the glider with his left hand. During the circuit, he realised he could not simultaneously hold the canopy, control the glider, and operate the flaps and airbrakes. On final approach, he attempted to secure the control column between his legs while temporarily releasing it to select the flaps. At that point, the glider began to porpoise, likely because it was not in trim. The pilot lost control, and the glider struck the ground at a nose-down attitude of about 20° to 30°, cartwheeled, and came to rest inverted in a field of vegetables in the undershoot of Runway 28.
Rescue and Injuries
The pilot was trapped upside down in the cockpit, supported by his harness. Rescuers arrived quickly, cut his seat harness and parachute straps, and a farmer lifted the glider with a forklift tractor. The pilot was taken by air ambulance to a hospital. He sustained serious injuries, including a broken arm.
Pilot’s Comments
The pilot believed the canopy detached just before the glider struck the ground. He stated that the primary cause of the accident was inadequate pre-flight checks. He also noted that, although technically current, he was out of regular flying practice and that a lack of recency contributed. Additionally, he felt overconfident on the day, as he was in a hurry to get airborne and was thinking of the flight ahead rather than the launch.
Analysis and Conclusion
The AAIB analysis concluded that the glider became airborne with its canopy not closed and locked. This led the pilot to secure it with one hand while attempting to fly and configure the glider for landing. The resulting distraction and the need to release the control column during the approach led to loss of control. The conclusion stated that the canopy was not secured during pre-flight preparation because the pilot and his assistant became distracted, which resulted in the canopy becoming unsecure soon after takeoff.