This article was first published in the Australian Gliding magazine, April 1988. A detailed description of this accident can be found in the article titled: "... and live to talk about it!"
A collision between two competing sailplanes marred an otherwise good contest at Horsham in early February. Fortunately neither pilot was seriously hurt.
On 6 February, Bob Irvine was returning to Horsham from the south when his aircraft came into collision with another sailplane, flown by Duncan Ferguson. Details are not clear at the time of writing but it appears that the wingtip of one aircraft struck the canopy of the other.
Both sailplanes were at about 5000 feet at the time of the collision. Bob Irvine abandoned his aircraft and landed safely by parachute. Duncan Ferguson was able to maintain control of his machine and made a safe landing in a paddock about five miles from Horsham airfield.
Winners of the various classes at the contest were:
Open: Tony Tabart, Nimbus 2.
15 Metre: David Wilson, PIK20D.
Standard: Col Crittendon, LS4.
Sports: Noel Vagg, Twin Astir