A glider that crashed in Washington state last week, killing the pilot, was part of a commercial ad shoot for General Motors, the company told the Associated Press. The crash occurred as the glider was starting to ascend after being towed down an airport runway.


According to the AP, the local sheriff's office identified the pilot as 53-year-old William Weller of Tukwila, the only person on board. A helicopter was filming the glider from above Cle Elum Municipal Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

The glider was registered to Northwest Eagles Soaring of Tukwila, Washington, whose web site indicates it was likely a DG-1000, made by DG Flugzeugbau GmbH of Germany (Photo for reference only).