Investigation number
198400043
Occurrence date
Location
35 Km NW of Dalby
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence category
Airborne collision
Occurrence class
Accident
Highest injury level
Fatal

Several gliders were thermalling in one area during a cross-country flight. VH-IZE departed for the next thermal and the pilot, having determined that he was clear of other aircraft, began a left turn in the thermal. He then heard a loud bang and the glider pitched steeply down, however he was able to parachute to the ground. The left wing of VH-IZE had severed the fuselage of a second glider, VH-GKN, and the tail wheel area had struck the upper right wing and cockpit. The pilot of VH-GKN had been thrown from his seat but did not operate his parachute. The relative positions of the two gliders prior to the start of the manoeuvring which resulted in collision could not be established. However, the apparent relative impact attitudes of each aircraft indicate that just prior to impact VH-IZE would most probably have been in the two o'clock low position in the field of view from the cockpit of VH-GKN. VH-GKN would have most probably appeared in the seven o'clock high position in the field of view from the cockpit of VH-IZE. It is likely that the pilot of VH-GKN was incapacitated as a result of the collision.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Glasflugel
Model
303
Registration
VH-GKN
Operation type
Gliding
Departure point
Jondaryan QLD
Departure time
1115
Destination
Jondaryan QLD
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Glaser-Dirks
Model
DG-200
Registration
VH-IZE
Operation type
Gliding
Departure point
Jondaryan QLD
Damage
Destroyed