Le Slingsby T21 à moteur d'appoint s'accidente en vache après s'être égaré
Un Slingsby T21 à moteur d'appoint a été détruit lors d'un atterrissage brutal sur un champ labouré en pente ; les deux occupants ont été légèrement blessés. Lancé au treuil automobile, il n'a trouvé aucune ascendance et le moteur a tourné presque plein régime tout le vol. L'équipage s'est complètement égaré et, après quatre-vingts minutes, le carburant bas a imposé un atterrissage. Faute de mieux, le pilote a choisi un champ à chemin étroit, mais a vu trop tard sa forte pente. Une remise des gaz a échoué, le moteur ne pouvant remonter, et le planeur a heurté le sol pique du nez bien avant le chemin. Les ailes se sont détachées.
- 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.