By Stewart Ross

THE OLD pilot’s saying that “Any landing you walk away from is a good landing” was tested to the limit yesterday afternoon when a glider clipped power lines and crashed outside Thornton in Fife.

Battered and bruised, the 44-year-old clambered out of his wrecked SZD Junior glider unaided and, after a check-up and X-rays at Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, was allowed home.

The intrepid aviator, an experienced flier from the Scottish Gliding Centre at Portmoak, had been attempting to land in a meadow just east of the village and later told witnesses that he had not seen the wires strung from across the area.

First on the scene was former soldier Shaun Haran (42), who was working at a nearby Fife Council transport depot.

“It was my charge-hand who pointed out the glider,” Mr Haran said.

“It was clearly losing altitude and heading for the field but it clipped the cable and was catapulted forward. The nose went into the field and the glider ended up on its back.”

Mr Haran raced straight to the field where the pilot was clambering out of his crumpled glider and gave first-aid.

“The gentleman had managed to get himself out but had injured his back and had a gash by his left eye.”

Other witnesses included Nigel Carnegie and Darren Hulston, from Alloa, who were working outside the council depot.

“That guy is very, very lucky to be alive,” said Mr Carnegie.

Keith Auchterlonie, of Portmoak Centre, said, “This was a reasonably experienced pilot and whilst landing in a field is quite usual, clipping power lines is rare. But he walked away afterwards, which is the main thing.”

Fife Constabulary cordoned the immediate area after the 1.15 pm incident and are asking witnesses to come forward and contact them on 01592 251111.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch, part of the Department of Transport, said that following an incident of this nature the pilot would be expected to fill in an accident form.