Standard Cirrus and a Tutor collide mid-air; the glider pilot bails out clear

Two people in a light aircraft were killed, and a Standard Cirrus pilot parachuted to safety, when the two collided near Drayton in uncontrolled airspace; both were destroyed. The glider was on a cross-country from Lasham among many on the same task when its pilot saw a Grob Tutor climbing toward him during aerobatics. He pitched up and rolled away, but as his speed fell the Tutor's wing struck the glider's fin and the tail broke off; he bailed out. The Tutor spun down and dived into the ground, killing its pilot and an air cadet. Neither pilot saw the other in time in the busy, uncontrolled airspace.

1. Glider cross-country, busy airspace: A Standard Cirrus was on a cross-country task from Lasham near Drayton, at about 4,000 ft in uncontrolled airspace, among many gliders flying the same task.
2. Tutor doing aerobatics, unseen: Nearby, a RAF Grob Tutor with a pilot and an air cadet was flying aerobatics; neither pilot saw the other in time, the Tutor pilot's spinal condition limiting his lookout.
3. Glider pilot sees the Tutor climbing: The glider pilot heard a piston engine and saw the Tutor below and to his left, then climbing steeply toward him.
4. Evasive pitch-up and roll: He pitched up and rolled right to avoid it, losing sight of the Tutor as his airspeed fell.
5. Collision, glider tail breaks off: The Tutor's left wing struck the glider's fin and the tailplane and tail section broke away from the fuselage.
6. Glider pilot bails out; Tutor spins in: The glider pilot bailed out and parachuted to safety; the Tutor spun down and dived into the ground, killing its pilot and the cadet. Both aircraft were destroyed.