ONLOOKERS have spoken of their shock after witnessing a glider "nose dive" into a hanger at Aston Down Airfield.

A 57 year-old man believed to be from the area has died after the glider he was flying crashed just after noon on Sunday, June 14.

Frank Tunbridge, who runs the car boot sale every Sunday next to Cotswold Gliding Club at the airfield, was packing up after the customers had gone when he heard the crash around 60 yards away.

“I heard a bang, it sounded like a car back firing – a small explosion,” Frank said.

“One of my lads who saw it said he heard a whoosh and he looked up and saw this glider overhead.

Car boot sale event steward Richard Wills, 52, went on: “The glider was too low and suddenly its nose dipped and it went straight into a vertical dive into one of the hangers.

"At first I thought it went straight into the roof but apparently it didn't.

“The roof of the hanger shattered and the tail of the glider snapped off and there was dust and debris everywhere.

"In the 10 years that I've worked at the car boot sale I've never seen anything like it."

Frank added: “And then everything went quiet, there was an uncanny stillness.”

After the crash Richard immediately rang the emergency services and drove round to the devastation.

Frank continued: “People were running out. To have it happen right next to you is shocking.”

In an official statement a spokesperson for Cotswold Gliding Club said: "At approximately 12.10pm on Sunday, June 14 a K8 glider crashed whilst on a local flight.

"The pilot who is a club member sustained fatal injuries.

"The incident is currently under investigation by Air Accident Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport, and the Police, in conjunction with the British Gliding Association.

"The Club is cooperating fully with these organisations.

"At the present time there is no indication as to the cause of the accident.

"The pilot’s name will be released by the police once the next of kin have been informed.

"Our thoughts at this stage are with the family of the pilot."

Formed in 1964 the Cotswold Gliding Club moved to Aston Down in 1967. It had previously been a military airfield.