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A 22-year-old student flying a glider in a competition was killed after it crashed Monday in Oizumi, Gunma Prefecture.
According to police, Yuya Akezuma, a Waseda University student, crashed at around 3:10 p.m. during the inter-university gliding competition, Fuji TV reported. Akezuma was confirmed dead at the scene.
The competition began in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, with student pilots having to fly on a course around Oizumi and return back to their starting point in Kumagaya. Six gliders, including Akezuma’s, were participating in the competition. It is believed that his glider suddenly stalled during a turn.
© Japan Today
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smithinjapan
Seems pretty reckless that they would allow this. RIP.
hooktrunk2
Sad news. Smithinjapan, probably safer, though than walking to school along some of the narrow streets and roads in Japan that have no room for pedestrians.
TrevorPeace
There's nothing reckless about hang-gliding, @smithinjapan, although the article doesn't say it was that type of flying. Could have been a fixed-wing glider. Nonetheless, I flew hang-gliders for years, and taught the sport, too; had a few close calls and one crash, but when you're lucky enough to have a bald eagle soar with you, at your wingtip, you'd do it again and again, just for that opportunity. It IS a dangerous sport, but so are a lot of others. I feel badly for the young man's family because I've seen it happen, but stuff DOES happen in all sport, so carry on we must.
Dan Lewis
@TrevorPeace I'm jealous. Sounds awesome!
3RENSHO
Smith, several Japanese universities, including Rikkyo and Waseda support soaring clubs. On its home page, the Aviation Club of Waseda University "boasts a shining record of no fatal accidents in seventy-five years." Incidentally, the aircraft involved in the Gunma crash is a sailplane, not a "glider." (A glider by definition, can only glide and cannot gain altitude.)