Blanik BGA.1825 glider at Sutton Bank gliding site.

On Monday, 19th July 1976 this glider was carrying out a launch at Sutton Bank at 15.40hrs and on board was a gliding instructor assisting the Yorkshire Gliding Club with their "holiday course" program. During the launch on the short-run the launch cable broke at 120 feet off the ground and rather than risk dropping below the ridge for a landing in standing corn the instructor turned the aircraft with the intention of landing on the long run, parallel to the ridge. Unfortunately as he turned an updraft under the left wing flipped the aircraft into a spiral dive from which there was insufficient height to recover. The glider crashed on the grass at the top of the ridge about 100 yards from the clubhouse. The pupil was on his first glider flight and being in the front was unfortunately very seriously injured and sadly died as he was lifted out of the glider. His instructor escaped with a couple of broken legs, he was the Chief Flying Instructor of a Royal Air Force gliding club and also a Sgt in the RAF at the time. The pupil's girlfriend was watching the flight from the ground and witnessed the accident.

Trainee Pilot - Mr Michael Francis Neale. Aged 21. Buried Shepshed Cemetery, Leicestershire.

Instructor Pilot - Mr James Pignot. Injured.