Atterrissage en campagne du Slingsby T21 après désorientation près de Farforth, Lincolnshire
Le 16 novembre 1991, un planeur Slingsby T21 équipé d'un moteur de sustentation a effectué un atterrissage en campagne près de Farforth, Lincolnshire. Le vol, qui avait débuté par un remorquage automobile depuis East Kirby, n'a rencontré aucune ascendance et le moteur a été utilisé à pleine puissance. Les pilotes se sont désorientés et, à mesure que le carburant s'épuisait, ont tenté un atterrissage préventif sur un champ labouré. Le planeur a heurté le sol violemment, entraînant le détachement des ailes et des dommages importants au cockpit. Les deux membres d'équipage ont subi des blessures légères et ont été hospitalisés pour la nuit.
- Car-tow departure: The modified Slingsby T21 was car-tow launched from East Kirby in calm winds and hazy conditions with layered cloud.
- No lift, fuel low: After about eighty minutes of flight with no rising air and the sustainer engine run near full power, the fuel supply became low, forcing a decision to land while still lost.
- 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.