An experienced glider pilot crashed and died at an airfield after failing to release the winch shortly before take-off was attempted, investigators have found.

Mark Dickson, 49, from Troon, who had 30 years' flying experience, was killed instantly when the right wing of his Nimbus 3 aircraft clipped the ground and sent it cartwheeling across Portmoak airfield in Kinross in September last year.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said the fatal launch went ahead after he failed to release the winch cable when the wing tip touched the ground.

The experts said he may not have seen that the wing tip was on the ground due to the model's long wings.