Tragic News

This is from the Official Competition Web site.

“We are sad to have to announce, that we had a fatal accident this afternoon. A pilot of the Standard Class crashed in his glider about one hour after the opening the start line about 20km North East from Prievidza. The Accident and Incident Investigation Department of the Ministry of Transportation and Communication of the Slovak Republic is currently investigating this accident.
The task of the Standard Class has been cancelled.” (all Standard Class gliders were recalled).

Peter was the closest glider to the accident and witnessed the crash. He phoned in to Aussie base and we reported his Spot position to the organisers. He then landed at Martin Airfield where he found a Dynamic tug (and pilot) to return to the exact site of the crash to help locate the wreckage. He spent 45 minutes circling over the crash site (in company with a second Dynamic from Prievidza, and two rescue helicopters that had joined the search). This allowed the emergency services to drop people from the helicopter in the correct location to quickly access the accident site which was heavily forested, obscuring all traces of the glider from the air.
Before the crash there was a second midair before the start. An Austrian glider landed and a second glider suspected of involvement in the collision was called down, inspected, given the all clear and relaunched. He then outlanded. A bizarre sequence of events.

Today is a non flying day and we will have a safety briefing at 10am.