A 75-year-old British pilot tragically passes away in a devastating glider accident in the Pyrenees.
A 75-year-old British pilot tragically passes away in a devastating glider accident in the Pyrenees. The aircraft collided with a tree upon landing.
Unfortunately, a pilot from Britain met a tragic end in the mountains of Spain when his glider crashed into a tree during landing.
Mike Evans, 75, affectionately nicknamed ‘Little Mike’ because of his height, was hurt after coming off the runway and hitting trees as he landed at the Santa Cilia aerodrome near the northern Spanish city of Jaca.
Yesterday at around 4pm, emergency responders were notified that he was conscious and experiencing discomfort in his neck.
According to local sources, he survived for approximately 40 minutes following the accident. However, he was declared deceased at the location after losing consciousness and experiencing cardiac arrest.
Scene pictures showed the damaged glider buried in undergrowth near the runway, with a fallen tree on its left wing.
Luis Ferreira, the director of the aerodrome, confirmed today that witnesses were present with Mike during his final moments. Luis Ferreira, who had a close relationship with Mike through their involvement in the Nimbus Aeroclub, also expressed how devastated everyone at the club is.
A 75-year-old pilot from Britain has sadly passed away following a collision with a tree in the Pyrenees Mountains. The accompanying image shows a Spanish police officer present at the location.
The club expressed their emotions on Facebook, saying, “Farewell Mike. It was a privilege to have known you.” They also added the words “Feeling awful” accompanied by a crying emoticon.
Another devastated Spanish friend said by way of tribute: ‘Dear Mike. Twenty-five years ago you decided the Santa Cilia Aerodrome was the best place to exercise your passion for gliding and fly over the Pyrenees.
Since that moment, you had been eagerly anticipating the yearly date you had scheduled for your arrival, until the significant day of September 9, 2023.
Throughout the years, you have earned the admiration and fondness of not only the villagers but also the people at the various establishments you have regularly visited.
Many of us friends are experiencing profound pain due to your departure.
On this fateful day of September 9th, a tragic incident occurred, causing you to take your last breath and remain with us indefinitely.
“Dear friend, we wish you a joyful journey in the skies. You, a remarkable individual, will always hold a special place in our memories. Farewell.”
The owner of a local restaurant that Mike used to visit frequently also posted messages expressing their condolences with the phrase “Rest in peace.”
Locals in the Jaca area said he was a member of the Lasham Gliding Society at Lasham Airfield in Alton, Hampshire, which has been described as one of the largest gliding clubs in the world.
One of his nicknames was Little Mike due to his small stature, while another nickname is thought to have been ‘Evans Bach’.
One local who knew him from the Nimbus Aeroclub where he suffered his tragic accident, said: ‘He was less than five feet tall and was getting on and probably didn’t have the attributes he needed to carry on gliding.
However, his passion for it was so strong that he refused to quit.
Based in the Pyrenees mountains, Santa Cilia Aerodrome, pictured, is popular among glider pilots
“He arrived swiftly and at a high altitude, but veered off the designated path. He collided with the trees with considerable impact, and while an official examination will be necessary to determine the exact cause of his death, I believe it will likely conclude that it was a result of the forceful impact.”
Mike was well-known for his culinary skills at Lasham Gliding Society and had actively participated in various charitable events organized by the society.
It is also thought that he previously worked as an editor for a magazine in that location.
At midday today, there was no one from Lasham Gliding Society available to provide a comment. However, it is anticipated that the club will issue a statement either later today or tomorrow.
According to reports, Mr. Evans had been a frequent visitor to the Spanish aerodrome where he tragically passed away starting from 1999.
Currently, there is an ongoing inquiry into the incident.
Photos of the accident scene showed the damaged glider in undergrowth near the runway with its left wing against a fallen tree. Police tape had been put up around the fixed-wing aircraft.
The dead man was travelling alone in the single seat glider.
An unnamed acquaintance quoted in a local paper said before Mr Evans was named: ‘We saw him coming in to land from the aerodrome, ‘Perhaps he was going a little fast and high but we’ll have to wait to see what the investigation says.
‘We’ve known him a long time. He was a chef at a very important flying club in the south of London.
At certain times, he has dedicated up to four months per year to staying here due to his strong enthusiasm for flying.
The accident that occurred yesterday was the initial one in the province of Huelva, to which Jaca belongs.
Santa Cilia aerodrome is regarded as one of the best locations in Spain for gliding, with the thermals and air currents in the area making it a reference point for both amateurs and professionals.
Due to its location near the base of the Pyrenean mountains, one can experience the thrill of a scenic flight over the breathtaking Pyrenees.
The airfield was the venue for the 2010 Spanish National Gliding Championships and attracts glider pilots from across Europe every year.
