Glider collision with plane only narrowly avoided, probe finds

Only “providence” prevented a plane conducting aerial surveys from colliding with a glider above Kinross, an official probe has heard.

Some members of the UK Airprox Board, which investigates near misses, said the “potential for collision was high”.

The incident, involving a Vulcanair P68 – a six-seater, twin-engined plane – and the Discus glider happened 10 miles north of Portmoak at 11.53am on November 27.

The glider put the distance between the two aircraft at 250ft vertically and around 984ft horizontally.

The pilot of the glider said he had been attempting to soar in a weak wave when he suddenly saw a white high-wing aircraft slightly above him, heading west and banking away to the northwest in what appeared to be an avoiding manoeuvre.

The glider pilot said the “startle factor” may have made the aircraft seem closer than it actually was, although he was able to read the underwing registration markings. The other aircraft made a wide circle around him before continuing on its way.

The pilot said he accepted he might not have kept as good a lookout as he should, adding that he was not really scanning for other aircraft.

He said the white horizon and his white glider would not have stood out well, and he was probably partially into sun for the P68 pilot.

He added that the P68 operating company did not respond to attempts to contact it.

The UK Airprox board said neither aircraft had compatible anti-collision warning systems which meant both pilots were “relying on the barrier of seeand-avoid”.