A glider pilot has vowed to stay airborne despite a crash that put him in hospital.

Speaking from his hospital bed yesterday, Bob Adam, 73, admitted he was to blame for the crash at Southdown Gliding Club in Cootham, near Storrington, on Sunday.

The retired City shipping broker from Lindfield added: "This won't stop me from flying. It's safer than driving on the motorway and the club is very safety-conscious."

Mr Adam was piloting a K-13 training glider when a wing clipped a tree as he came in to land.

He said: "I made a total bog of the approach back to the field. I arrived back at the field far too low and my error of judgement meant I hit a tree as I approached the airfield. That spun the aircraft round in the air and I plunged to the ground nose first.

"As I was in the front I took the full force of the impact. I thought that was probably the end but you haven't got much time to think."

Mr Adam's ankle was crushed by the glider's steel tubing, which crumpled on impact. Co-pilot, Eric Davidson, was unhurt.

Mr Adam said: "I felt an idiot. The club might decide I ought not to be flying. I feel I've let them down."

Mr Adam took up gliding ten years ago as a retirement hobby but his three daughters, who are in their 30s and live in America, are not so keen.

He said: "One of them told me I was a silly old fool and I should give it up. She's probably going to say, 'I told you so Dad'."

The Transport Department's Air Accident Investigation Branch has started an inquiry.