Cessna strays into active glider ATZ, strikes Astir T-tail in mid-air

A Cessna trainer struck a Grob Astir over Farnborough during club gliding; the glider pilot was slightly injured and the glider destroyed. It had released from aerotow at about 550 m AGL inside the airfield traffic zone — still active though the tower was unmanned, the club on an air/ground radio service — and was turning in lift. The trainer from a neighbouring field strayed into the active zone without the required radio service; the two converged, each pilot seeing the other too late. The Cessna wingtip struck the glider T-tail, broke the rear fuselage and removed pitch control; the pilot jettisoned the canopy and parachuted down.

1. Aerotow release: After aero-tow from Farnborough Runway 07, the glider pilot released at about 550 m AGL southwest of the airfield and began searching for lift.
2. Thermal search turns: The glider orbited left to find lift, then headed east back toward the airfield before finding lift and entering a right turn at low height near the ATZ.
3. Converging Cessna traffic: While the glider was turning in lift near 550 m AGL, a Cessna 152 on a training flight inadvertently tracked into the Farnborough ATZ and converged with the glider's flight path.
4. Late sighting and impact: The glider pilot saw the Cessna only when very close, in a banked right turn; its left wingtip struck the glider's fin and tail, breaking the rear fuselage and causing loss of pitch control.
5. Pilot bailout: After realizing he had lost pitch control, the glider pilot opened the canopy, exited over the left side of the fuselage, deployed his back parachute, and was only slightly injured.
6. Crash - minor injury: The uncontrolled glider stalled, spun flat, struck a tree that separated the empennage, and crashed near the threshold, damaged beyond repair; the pilot survived with minor injury.