Schleicher Ka-7 Rhonadler BGA.1589 glider at Sutton Bank.

On 9th July 1972 this glider took off from Sutton Bank but encountered a problem soon after leaving the ground, possibly turbulent air. The pilot cast off and tried to return to the landing site but flew into the cliff edge. The glider was badly damaged.

This may have been the incident that I have located some vague information around this period that says the instructor abandoned an aerotow launch at the start of the 1972 season, the glider rolled down the south face of the gliding site's boundary - near the White Horse. No serious injuries were reported.

Pilot - Name unknown.

Possible trainee pilot - Name unknown.

This glider was given it's certificate of airworthiness in March 1970 and was initially registered in Germany as D-7083, following this mishap it appears to have been written off.

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