Two pilots survive light aircraft crash on busy road in Gloucestershire

Two pilots of a light aircraft escaped without serious injury despite crash-landing on to a busy A-road in Gloucestershire.

After landing, the plane appeared to have skidded through a hedge and ended up on the westbound stretch of the A419 between Cirencester and Stroud.

Photographs of the aftermath of the crash showed two men inside the cockpit who appeared to be uninjured and stunned to have survived the incident. They were later photographed being helped from the cockpit by passersby.

The wreck of the aircraft, a motor glider, and parts of the hedge that had been dragged on to the road, blocked traffic in both directions. The plane’s righthand wing broke off in the crash and its undercarriage appeared severely damaged.

The plane is thought to have overshot the runway at Aston Down airfield, home of the Cotswold Gliding Club (CGC) in Frampton Mansell, which lies south the A419. An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the crash.

The Great Western air ambulance was among the emergency services to respond to reports of the downed plane at about 4.45pm on Tuesday. The service was stood down soon after arriving at the scene as the two men had escaped serious injury.

The pilots, who are both members of the CGC, were taken to hospital.

One witness said the glider “looked like it stalled and nosedived into the main road”.

A spokesperson for the CGC said the incident was being investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Branch. They added: “We don’t know the condition of both men, but we are waiting to hear.”

In a statement, the club said: “A Grob 109B two-seater motor glider from the Cotswold Gliding Club was involved in an incident whilst landing from a local flight.

“The two occupants, who are both qualified pilots, suffered some injuries and were taken by ambulance to hospital to be checked over. The A419 road past Aston Down airfield was closed overnight to permit removal of the aircraft.

“The incident is currently under investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport, the British Gliding Association and the local police.”

In a statement on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Gloucestershire constabulary said: “Motorists are advised that road closures are in place while emergency services are in attendance.

“There were two occupants onboard who will be assessed by the ambulance service, and it is understood that no other vehicles were involved.”