A glider pilot died in a horrific accident as he took off from a Kinross-shire airfield on Tuesday.
The man was killed after his Nimbus 3 aircraft flipped over during its launch at the Scottish Gliding Centre at Portmoak near Kinross.
It had been just feet off the airstrip before it slammed into the ground, according to police.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, the pilot died at the scene.
Police released no personal details other than to say the man was in his late 40s. His identity will be released after next of kin have been informed.
An investigation is now under way to establish what caused the accident.
The incident unfolded on what staff said was an otherwise perfect day for the busiest airfield of its kind in Scotland.
The emergency services were called to the picturesque spot on the banks of Loch Leven at 1.30pm. As well as the police and ambulances, fire crews were called to the scene.
An eyewitness who contacted The Courier said: ”I spotted the glider lying upside down in the field and all the blue lights racing towards it.
”There seemed to be a lot of people ambulance people and firemen and police. It looked like a horrible thing to have happened just horrible.”
Staff instructor Chris Robinson, who runs the glider centre, said no reason had been established for the accident.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed a team had been sent to Scotland from Farnborough and that a study of such a crash site could stretch into months if necessary.
Other gliders had remained in the air throughout the incident and had to be guided back to safety.
It is the third air tragedy to blight Courier Country in recent months, all of which are being investigated.
Experienced Angus Gliding Club member Ken Smith (59), from Spittalfield, died when his single-seat DG 100 German-made glider crashed near Kirriemuir shortly after launching in August.
In May, Scottish Aero Club members Dave Martin (63), from Kinghorn in Fife, and Alan McCaskie (62), from Broughty Ferry, were killed when their microlight, which was flying out of Perth Airport, crashed.
They had been on their way to Mull when their aircraft came down on Ben More, near Crianlarich.