TSB says glider pilot killed after his parachute failed to properly deploy [Video]

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released the results of its investigation into the crash of a glider on May 29, 2024, that claimed the life of a Calgary man.

Sixty-five-year-old Kerry Stevenson was killed when his glider crashed while he was taking part in the Canadian National Soaring Championships, hosted by the Cu Nim Gliding Club south of Highway 7 between Diamond Valley and Okotoks.

The TSB says Stevenson had been gliding for almost 30 years, had acquired approximately 750 flight hours on gliders and provided glider instruction to other club members.

The report says conditions for gliding on the day of the crash were “poor” and a number of gliders returned to the competition airstrip (aerodome) after flying for less than 20 minutes.

After he attempted, unsuccessfully, for 23 minutes to gain altitude, Stevenson also turned back toward the aerodome, but his glider eventually went into a spin and lost more than 60 …