Pilot and instructor survive dramatic glider crash

The glider broke up as it landed in a field

A glider pilot and his instructor have survived a dramatic crash as they landed in Perth and Kinross.

The plane broke in two as it came down in a field at Scotlandwell, near the Scottish Gliding Centre, on Friday afternoon.

The 70-year-old pilot was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh by air ambulance as a precaution but was unhurt and later released.

The instructor was also uninjured in the crash which is being investigated.

Scottish Gliding Centre chairman Wolf Rossmann said the glider came down just short of the runway at Portmoak Airfield.

He said the crash would be investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch but stressed the aircraft had been thoroughly checked over.

"The glider had passed its most recent annual statutory check, carried out by an independent inspector," he said.

"Reflecting our absolute focus on safety, it is standard practice for all of our gliders to undergo a thorough safety inspection at the start of each day they are flown.

"This inspection was carried out on the morning of the incident and the aircraft was found to be in fully serviceable condition. The aircraft flew 10 successful sorties that day."

Mr Rossmann said it would be inappropriate to speculate on what caused the crash at this stage.

He added: "In line with standard operating procedure, we have reported the incident to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the British Gliding Association and we will, of course, co-operate fully with the investigation to be carried out."