Glider stall led to pilot’s death report reveals
L12-545 Glider crashed in field on Harling Road, Nr Eaton Bray. Rick Redman JR 18 30.4.12
An experienced pilot probably died when his glider stalled over Dunstable Downs, according to an Air Accident investigation report.
Michael Teychenne, 65, of Copperkins Lane in Amersham, died when his glider crashed into a field at Eaton Bray on April 30 last year.
Mr Teychenne was on his second flight of the day, in the afternoon, from the Dunstable-based London Gliding Club.
A witness told investigators they saw the glider pull up steeply and level off before banking to the left and entering a spiral dive.
Other witnesses saw the glider in a steep nose-down attitude before it crashed into a crop field.
Mr Teychenne, a conductor with the Harrow Symphony Orchestra, died from multiple injuries.
Conditions on the day of the crash were good but blustery, and a red wind sock at the gliding site indicted only instructor pilots or Silver standard pilots should fly.
Mr Teychenne was neither, but was experienced, with more than 270 hours of flying time.
On the accident flight, he executed a pull-up manoeuvre to possibly exploit an area of lift.
But a tailwind and low groundspeed could have caused the engine to stall and the report states there was insufficient height to recover before impact.
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Thursday 20 June 2013
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