Glider Crash: Excess Weight Killed Pilot & Passenger

0:00On April 2nd, a glider crash at Darlie Moore airfield in Darbyshire, killed pilot Edward Brown, 66, and passenger James Litchfield, 64. On April 8th last year, the two were on an introductory flight when their Hoffman H-36 Dimona plummeted about 150 feet right after takeoff. The air accident's investigation branch report just dropped, pinning excess weight as a key contributor. The Max Payload sat at 170.6kg, but theirs hit 206kg, 35kg over due to miscalculated. Empty weight figures. Witnesses that a nearby cycling event on the racetrack washed in horror as the glider wobbled, rolled right, and nose dived into the ground. Litchfield, a company director from Ashborne, got the flight as a family gift, turning a fun outing tragic. Investigators ruled out mechanical faults, but couldn't nail why the pilot couldn't climb or force land safely. No engine issues turned up, just that overload playing a role.

1:03Clubs are stepping up now with online weight checks and waivers before flights, while the British Gliding Association pushes stricter prepperls too. Keep gliders from tipping the scales again.