Woman Killed, Pilot ‘Seriously Injured’ After 2-Seater Glider Crashed During a ‘Normal Flying Day’ at Private Airfield

A woman was killed and a pilot was seriously injured when a two-seat glider crashed at a private airfield in Tasmania’s Southern Midlands.

Tasmania Police said the single-glider crash happened just before 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28, at an airfield on Turnbridge Tier Road, about 106 kilometers (66 miles) north of Hobart.

When police and emergency crews arrived, they found a woman in her early 50s and a Tasmanian man in his mid-60s, who authorities believe was piloting the aircraft. The woman died at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash, while the pilot suffered serious injuries and was airlifted from the Soaring Club of Tasmania to Royal Hobart Hospital.

Tasmania Police Inspector Aleena Crack said the pair appeared to be part of a larger group at the airfield that day, which included the woman’s husband.

“Police can confirm there has been a fatal crash involving a glider at Tunbridge and that sadly, the female victim was pronounced deceased at the scene,” Crack said. “There was a larger group of people at the airfield at the time, and this is obviously a tragic outcome for these families and friends.”

The incident was also described in an Aviation Safety Network report, which alleged the glider went down shortly after takeoff from the private airstrip and sustained substantial damage.

A spokesperson for the Soaring Club of Tasmania told Pulse Tasmania that the “glider accident” occurred during what had otherwise been a “normal flying day” at the training facility.

Authorities said the cause of the crash remains under investigation, and emergency crews were still at the scene.