Two gliders collide near a cloud bank; only one pilot can bail out

One glider pilot was killed and another parachuted to safety with minor injuries when their gliders collided by a bank of cloud while soaring near Sutton Bank; both were destroyed. A Scheibe SF27 and a Schleicher ASW 19B, on a club expedition to the ridge site, were near broken cloud at about 460 m when they struck, each losing part of a wing. The SF27 pilot, turning to skirt the cloud, saw the other's wing tip an instant before impact; he got out and his parachute lowered him into woods. The ASW 19B, possibly descending out of cloud, fell with its pilot, who could not release his canopy. Both gliders were serviceable until the collision.

1. Ridge soaring near cloud, Sutton Bank: Two gliders, a Scheibe SF27 and a Schleicher ASW 19B on a club expedition, were soaring at Sutton Bank near broken cloud at about 460 m.
2. Broken cloud, reduced separation: They were flying close to a bank of broken, scuddy cloud; the ASW 19B may have been descending out of it toward the SF27.
3. SF27 pilot sees a wing tip too late: Turning to skirt the cloud, the SF27 pilot suddenly saw the other glider's orange wing tip an instant before impact.
4. Collision, both lose wing sections: The two gliders struck each other; each lost part of a wing and was left incapable of flight.
5. SF27 pilot bails out: The SF27 pilot freed himself and his parachute lowered him into woods; he had minor cuts and bruises.
6. ASW 19B pilot cannot escape: The ASW 19B pilot, wearing a parachute, could not release his cockpit canopy and fell with the glider; the ground impact was not survivable. Both gliders were destroyed.