A former world champion glider pilot has died after crashing in a field in Hampshire. Kay Draper, who was 60, died while attempting to land at an airfield on Thursday. Hampshire constabulary and the Air Accident Investigation Branch are now investigating the circumstances surrounding her death at Lasham airfield, near Basingstoke.

A spokesman for the AAIB told the Mail Online: "A team of investigators was deployed to the accident site to start an investigation. The wreckage is being recovered to our HQ at Farnborough for more detailed examination and we will publish a report on our findings when our investigation is complete. If any safety issues are identified, we may issue safety recommendations intended to prevent similar accidents in the future."

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Draper, who had since trained as an occupational therapist, working with patients with catastrophic injuries, had been piloting gliders as a hobby for 20 years. Before that, she won the first British women's hang-gliding championships, and had represented the country in international competition, as a member the British team which won the both the inaugural women's European and women's world championships.

She is understood to have taken off on a solo flight at the airfield before her fatal crash just before noon. Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash, which happened close to the village of Bradley, but were unable to save her. She was declared dead at the scene. She is survived by her husband, David Draper, 57.

A post mortem is now being carried out, as is an inquiry into the accident.

A Hampshire police spokesperson said: "Kay Draper died when the glider she was piloting came down in a field. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next-of-kin have been informed. There were no injuries sustained by anybody on the ground."