Slingsby T21 lands heavily on a downsloping field
In a heavy outlanding on a sloping ploughed field near Farforth, both occupants of a sustainer-equipped Slingsby T21 were slightly injured and the glider was destroyed. Car-tow launched, it found no lift, so the engine ran near full power throughout. The crew became completely lost, and after about eighty minutes the fuel ran low, forcing a landing. With only ploughed fields available, the pilot chose one with a narrow path but saw too late that it sloped downhill. A go-around was attempted, but the sustainer could not climb away, and the glider struck the ground nose-low well short of the path. The wings detached; no radio was carried.
- Car-tow departure: The modified Slingsby T21 was car-tow launched from East Kirby in calm winds and hazy conditions with layered cloud.
- Presses on under engine while lost: With no rising air, the crew ran the sustainer near full power and flew on lost for about eighty minutes, until low fuel forced a landing.
- Navigation disorientation: During the extended powered flight the pilots became completely lost and had no two-way radio or external assistance.
- Poor field selection: With only ploughed fields available, the pilot selected a field with a narrow path as the intended landing area, providing a marginal and constrained landing option.
- Late slope recognition: Only late in the approach did the pilot realise that the chosen landing area had a significant downslope and he attempted a go-around using the sustainer engine.
- Insufficient go-around power: The sustainer engine did not provide enough power for a go-around from the downslope approach, and the glider descended uncontrollably toward the ploughed field.
- Crash - minor injury: The glider struck the ground heavily in a nose-low attitude some distance from the path, destroying the aircraft and causing minor injuries to both occupants who were hospitalised overnight.