AN experienced pilot plummeted to his death in South Littleton near Evesham, after his glider's wings were torn off in a mid-air collision with two other aircraft.

James Mousley, known by his middle name of Robert, was 30 minutes into a flight when the accident happened last year.

An inquest heard the widower, a 53-year-old engineer from Droitwich, was probably attempting to circle a thermal above the village at a height of about 1,450ft when he suddenly struck a plane towing a glider.

Plane pilot Tim Harrison told the inquest at County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, that he was towing a glider into thermals when the accident happened on Sunday, July 15 about 2.05pm.

He was one minute into the flight from Bidford Gliding Centre.

Mr Harrison said: "As I was scanning I saw another glider very close. I put on full control trying to roll away from it to my right." Most of the glider's left wing was torn off when it clipped the plane's left wingtip.

Accident investigator for the British Gliding Association, David Bullock said: "The glider rolled with the remaining wing going high. The remains of the left wing struck the glider on tow damaging the cockpit."

Mr Bullock said Mr Mousley was probably turning a circle in a thermal to gain extra height when the accident happened.

Mr Mousley managed to scramble free from his cockpit but his parachute failed to save him.

"It was coming down very rapidly and didn't give sufficient time to evacuate safely - the glider was completely destroyed," added Mr Bullock.

Mr Mousley, from Monnow Close, Droitwich, was taken to Ronkswood Hospital in Worcester still wrapped in his orange parachute and later identified from dental records.

The inquest heard he died from multiple injuries including fractures to his skull, arms and legs.

After the initial impact the plane released the towrope connected to the other glider and made an emergency landing nearby.

The other glider pilot, Roger Slater, had been knocked unconscious by debris. He said: "I saw the left wing of the glider disintegrate but I have no memory of the descent at all."

He suffered head injuries in the crash. A jury returned a verdict of accidental death.