Update:

From latest photos available online it looks as if the engine was
deployed. It makes one wonder if he got into the usual trap of
motorised gliders of relying on the motor to get him out of a tricky
situation just too late for it to be effective.

I also wonder about the usefulness of a sustainer engine for retrieves
other than in flat quiet air. Several folks flying in the US west have
rejected them because of their poor power in high density altitudes.
Also they wouldn't help you if you hit a long run of 10-knot sink that
we sometimes see. I wonder if the mountain conditions he encountered
were just too much for the engine?

I also wonder if having the engine resulted in a mind-set that no ELT
would be necessary as the glider can always motor home?

BGA report awaited with interest!


Mike the Strike wrote:

From the accident scene photos, it doesn't appear the engine was
deployed. It'll be interesting to hear the details of this one.

BBC News Scotland has reports and video available online.

Mike