A Grob 109B motorglider crashed onto the A419 road near Aston Down Airfield in Gloucestershire after the pilot allowed his passenger to take control, according to an Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) report. The incident occurred on August 27, 2024, around 4:45 pm, resulting in serious injuries to both men on board.
The pilot, 70-year-old aircraft owner Christopher Tooze, was flying with a passenger who is noted to have a significant profile in the gliding community. During the final approach phase, the pilot handed over control to the passenger, who made “inappropriate control inputs” that caused the plane to nose dive onto the busy road.
According to the AAIB, the passenger was seated in the right seat and initially controlled the aircraft with his right hand on the control column and left hand on engine controls. He reportedly did not intend to land the plane but continued flying through the final turn. Later, the passenger switched hands on the controls and operated the airbrakes incorrectly, resulting in an approach at 60-70 knots that led to the crash.
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The report highlights a critical procedural error: the passenger, sitting in the right seat, should have had his left hand on the control column and right hand on the airbrakes. Moreover, the pilot made no attempt to retake control during the final moments, nor did the passenger communicate control transfer properly.
Emergency crews and motorists quickly responded to the scene, finding the pilot able to exit the damaged aircraft unassisted, while the passenger was extracted by paramedics and hospitalized with serious spinal injuries. No technical faults were found in the motorglider, but the aircraft sustained damage beyond economic repair.
Witnesses described the crash as the plane stalling and nose diving onto the main road. Gloucestershire Police implemented road closures while emergency services attended, confirming that no other vehicles were involved.