THE pilot who died in a crash near Basingstoke was a former hang-gliding champion.

Kay Draper was pronounced dead at the scene after the glider she was piloting came down in an uncut corn field in Southwood Farm Lane, near the village of Bradley, at around 11.55am last Thursday.

The 60-year-old, of Marlborough, Wiltshire, started her flight at Lasham Airfield.

As reported on The Gazette website, Firefighters from Basingstoke and Cosham were called to the scene just after 12noon, where the glider, powered by a small back-up engine, had crashed.

A team of investigators from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) was also called to the incident and are being supported by Hampshire Constabulary in their investigation into the circumstances of the crash.

The wreckage was due to be taken to the AAIB's headquarters in Farnborough for a more detailed examination, before a report on its findings is published.

A spokesman for the AAIB said: "If any safety issues are identified, we may issue safety recommendations intended to prevent similar accidents in the future."

Mrs Draper, who worked as an occupational therapist, won the first British Women's Championships for hang-gliding before joining the British team.

According to womenglide.co.uk, she learned to fly gliders in 1996, before entering her first competition in 1999.

She shared two gliders with her husband, David, who has also been a member of the British team.

Hampshire Constabulary said her family had requested privacy during this difficult time.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting Operation Pollen.