Glaser-Dirks DG.400 G-BLRM at Crosland Moor.
On Sunday, 4th September 1988 a fly-in was held at Crosland Moor airfield and G-BLRM was a motor powered glider flown in from Rufforth airfield. It appears to have had a problem with the radio though could send and receive messages. During the afternoon the pilot had intended to take off from Crosland Moor and received clearance to take off. He taxied onto the runway but his left wing became entangled with some weeds at the side of the runway. This caused him to stop and switch off the engine so that he could leave the cockpit and clear the obstruction. With this cleared he climbed back into the cockpit, restarted the engine and made a transmission on his radio that he was taking off. At 14.45hrs as soon as he became airborne G-BLRM was struck from behind and above by Cap-21 G-BLZZ that was landing. Both aircraft crash landed on the runway and were damaged but neither pilot was injured. On his final approach to land, the ground controller was heard by the pilot of G-BLZZ instructing the pilot of G-BLRM to maintain his position (ie; not to take off) but given the problem with his radio he probably had not heard this instruction.
G-BLRM was registered to Robert Lionel McLean and John Neson Ellis (trading as D-G Powered Sailplanes UK), of Rufforth airfield.
Pilot - Name unknown.