A tragic incident occurred during a gliding competition, resulting in the death of a pilot after a mid-air collision caused his glider to crash at over 100mph, according to details presented in an inquest. The unfortunate event took place on August 17, 2023, when Philip Dolan, a seasoned aviator aged 67, was performing a barrel roll that ended in a fatal descent witnessed by onlookers.
Reports from the inquest revealed that Dolan, a retired petroleum engineer, was flying at approximately 2,500ft above Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, when his glider collided with another aircraft. Subsequently, his glider nosedived to the ground at high speed, resulting in severe head and chest injuries that proved fatal.
Eyewitnesses, including David Leach and Hannah Adams, described the harrowing moment of the collision and the subsequent crash. Leach mentioned observing the gliders getting too close before the impact, leading to a deafening noise as Dolan’s glider plummeted rapidly to the ground, leaving a lasting impact on those who witnessed the tragic event.
The inquest highlighted that factors such as sun positioning and the white color of the gliders contributed to impaired visibility, making it challenging to avoid the collision. While Dolan’s glider lost control and descended rapidly following the impact, the other pilot managed to land safely after the incident.
Jim Muzzell from Leicestershire Police provided insights into the circumstances leading to the collision, noting that Dolan’s glider lost its tail end during the mid-air impact, causing a loss of control and subsequent descent. The inquest confirmed that Dolan was still strapped into his flight seat when the glider crashed, resulting in fatal injuries.
Following investigations, a jury concluded the pilot’s death as accidental, attributing the collision to the flight maneuvers of the involved gliders. The collision occurred during a licensed gliding competition, as indicated by flight alarm system data, which showed the sequence of events leading to the tragic outcome.
The findings underscored the critical role of flight safety protocols and visibility considerations in preventing such incidents in the future. The community mourns the loss of Philip Dolan, an experienced pilot whose passion for gliding ended in a devastating turn of events.