Slingsby T.5 Grunau Baby II BGA.309 glider at Sutton Bank.
On the evening of 4th February 1939 the Yorkshire Gliding Club held a dinner and dance at the Golden Fleece in Thirsk. During the day prior to the event and also the day after the event club members undertook gliding from the site at Sutton Bank. On Sunday, 5th February 1939 this glider was being launched via a launch cable and winch system at Sutton Bank, the glider was propelled along the launch area at speed but the cable failed to disconnect from the nose of the glider as usually happened. The winch operator used an emergency release system where abouts the cable was cut at the winch end. The glider then dragged this cable behind it for a distance, catching it first in telephone wires and then in trees, the glider then pitched forward and nose dived into the ground wrecking it and injuring the pilot. He was taken to Thirsk hospital by ambulance and was treated by Dr H. Addison before being taken to York Hospital. It is thought he made a recovery.
Pilot - Mr Harry Hastwell, of Bierley, Bradford, Yorkshire. Sustained injuries to his feet and ankles.
Mr Hastwell was a fully qualified pilot and had been a member of the gliding club for "some years" at the time of this mishap. He later became secretary of the Yorkshire Gliding Club at Sutton Bank and in 1948 was living in Kirkbymoorside.
Slingsby T.5 Grunau Baby II BGA.309 was damaged in a number of flying accidents at Sutton Bank. It sustained repairable damage on 20th November 1937, 31st July 1938 and 5th February 1939 before being damaged beyond repair on 22nd April 1939.