Dudley de Baulch

On 12th July 1947 a Dagling Primary Glider (unregistered, so no serial) crashed shortly after launch at Friston Aerodrome in Sussex. At the controls was Dudley de Baulch who was making the flight for the purpose of qualifying for his "A" Gliding Certificate. The glider had been in regular use up until the Second World War, and had then been kept in a heated workshop and renovated by members of the Southdown Gliding Club Ltd. The wings and tail had been stripped, ribs repaired and then all lifting surfaces re-covered although they neglected to weigh it or check the centre of gravity position. However, since the renovation, the glider had taken part in some 170 flights without mishap.

At 14.00 hours the glider was winch launched at Friston, directly into the prevailing wind. The machine quickly reached a height of around 120 feet, at which point the pilot levelled out and released the cable. The glider was seen to descend in a normal gliding attitude, but after a few seconds the angle increased and continued to do so until it struck the ground at a relatively high speed in a vertical position, killing Dudley de Baulch instantly as the glider disintegrated and parts penetrated 14 inches into the hard ground.

Examination of the wreckage revealed little of use to the investigators, the winch was inspected and found to be operating properly, and the timber and fabric of the glider itself was considered to be satisfactory. The cause of the crash remained obscure.