3 Nov 2021 Steven Phillip Evans · Prevention of Future Deaths report Gwent
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Concerns raised 1 Failure to use effective radio communication between ground crew and glider pilots during launch and flight View source
Actions described in response An action is something this recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised. 8
Action
Use club site safety reviews to check compliance with required signalling standards.
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Action
Provide future reminders to club officials and pilots about aerotow signalling requirements, beginning before the spring 2022 gliding season.
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Action
Adopt, publish and promulgate amended launch-signalling regulations requiring reliable, unambiguous signalling and backup methods where radio communication is unavailable.
View source
Action
Require clubs restarting gliding to have pilots and instructors review safety information, including signalling requirements.
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Action
Remind club chairmen and Chief Flying Instructors about the AAIB findings and aerotow signalling requirements.
View source
Action
Direct club officers responsible for launching and launch signalling to the published signalling requirements and guidance.
View source
Action
Review launch signalling with experts and clubs and clarify required primary and backup signalling in revised rules and guidance.
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Action
Continue monitoring launch-signalling occurrence data to assess whether further safety action is required.
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AI-generated summary
Steven Phillip Evans · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Steven Phillip Evans was preparing to fly a glider when its tail plane became dislodged during launch, causing it to crash. He sustained serious injuries and died on 1 August 2019. The principal concern was that ineffective communication between ground crew and aircraft pilots failed to alert those involved to problems with the glider before launch; the report noted that radios may not be in use at other clubs and could put lives at risk in the future.
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How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to British Gliding Association; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to use effective radio communication between ground crew and glider pilots during launch and flight
Wider context from the report “1. Mandatory radio communication between ground crew and aircraft pilots.
During the course of the inquest the jury heard that problems with Steven’s glider were observed before the glider was launched however the system of communication did not alert either the tug plane operator or Steven Evans to the problems prior to his launch . In the circumstances I consider this constituted a failure to adopt an effective communication system at launch , a finding endorsed by the Air Accident Investigation Branch. However, there was insufficient information to determine that this contributed to Steven’s death as the glider crashed within seconds of the fault being identified.
In evidence it became clear that the CAA do not mandate the use of radios in the relevant aircraft and by the ground crew and whilst this was previously recommended by the BGA it was not usual practice at South Wales Gliding Club until after Steven’s death .
Whilst it was not determined that the failure to have radio communication contributed to Steven’s death it appears that radios may still not be in use in other clubs and therefore lives may be put at risk in the future. I consider that further consideration should be given by the CAA to require effective radio communication not only at launch but throughout the glider flight and that the BGA further strengthen the current guidelines that radios are strongly recommended.
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Use club site safety reviews to check compliance with required signalling standards.
Verbatim wording from the response “6. Club site safety reviews support checking of the required signalling requirements and standards.” Source location 2021-0372-Response-from-British-Gliding-Association_Published
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Provide future reminders to club officials and pilots about aerotow signalling requirements, beginning before the spring 2022 gliding season.
Verbatim wording from the response “9. Aerotow signalling operational regulation and associated requirements will be the subject of future reminders to club officials and pilots. The next reminder will be provided to clubs just ahead of spring 2022 to coincide with the start of the main gliding season and will be co-ordinated with any CAA safety promotion opportunity.” Source location 2021-0372-Response-from-British-Gliding-Association_Published
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Adopt, publish and promulgate amended launch-signalling regulations requiring reliable, unambiguous signalling and backup methods where radio communication is unavailable.
Verbatim wording from the response “2. During early February 2021, the BGA wrote to club chairmen describing the AAIB report, the associated outcomes, BGA the revised operational regulations and associated requirements and the intention to formally adopt those at the AGM.” Source location 2021-0372-Response-from-British-Gliding-Association_Published
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Require clubs restarting gliding to have pilots and instructors review safety information, including signalling requirements.
Verbatim wording from the response “5. During May 2021, gliding restarted after several long pauses associated with Covid restrictions. As part of the restart process, all clubs required their pilots and instructors to review safety information including that relating to signalling.” Source location 2021-0372-Response-from-British-Gliding-Association_Published
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Remind club chairmen and Chief Flying Instructors about the AAIB findings and aerotow signalling requirements.
Verbatim wording from the response “8. During early November 2021, all BGA club Chairmen and club Chief Flying Instructors (who oversee club flying operations) were again reminded of the AAIB report and outcomes, and the BGA operational regulation and associated requirements for aerotow signalling.” Source location 2021-0372-Response-from-British-Gliding-Association_Published
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Direct club officers responsible for launching and launch signalling to the published signalling requirements and guidance.
Verbatim wording from the response “4. All gliding club officers responsible for launching and launch signalling have been directed towards this online published information.” Source location 2021-0372-Response-from-British-Gliding-Association_Published
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Review launch signalling with experts and clubs and clarify required primary and backup signalling in revised rules and guidance.
Verbatim wording from the response “1. During June 2020, in response to the AAIB’s report and recommendation, the BGA carefully reviewed launch signalling, raised in detail and discussed the issues with subject matter experts and all gliding clubs, and clarified through draft revised rules and associated guidance what type of signalling is required, including guidance on back up signalling.” Source location 2021-0372-Response-from-British-Gliding-Association_Published
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Continue monitoring launch-signalling occurrence data to assess whether further safety action is required.
Verbatim wording from the response “10. Occurrence data relating to launch signalling will continue to be monitored to assess where further action may be required.” Source location 2021-0372-Response-from-British-Gliding-Association_Published
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Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations