Incident reports received by the BHPA are available in summary form on this page. If you're looking for reports of formal investigations undertaken in the case of a serious incident, please visit our Incident Reports (formal investigations) page.
Incident reports for all wing types are displayed below in summary form.
The BHPA incident reports database is fully searchable. To refine your search you can specify a particular wing type and select "or" or "and". For example, if you want to search for paraglider incidents at Hay Bluff, for best search results select paraglider from the drop down list and the "and" option.
If available, total hours flown and hours flown in the previous six months are included below, with the latter displayed in brackets.
| Date |
Pilot |
Location |
Wing Type |
Summary |
Injury |
|
08.10.2023 |
Male
Age:
58
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
2 years
200 hours
(65 hours)
|
Parlick,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Strong Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Phi
Maestro 2
Launch Type:
Foot |
There were 10 pilots on takeoff and 2 had already flown very briefly. There was nothing unusual about the takeoff but within 1 minute it became clear that there was excessive turbulence. Pilot decided to go to the landing field at the bottom of the hill but suffered a full frontal collapse which resulted in a spiral dive into the side of the hill
|
Seriously Injured,
Cervical Spine
|
|
08.10.2023 |
Male
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
Under a year
5 hours
(5 hours)
|
Northern Skies HQ,
UK
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Powered PG
Launch Type:
Powered |
Pilot on climb out was informed via Safe Sky about traffic. Pilot spotted Air ambulance helicopter and started immediate decent and landing. The helicopter passed within 300 M Laterally and 1-200 ft Vertically (as judged from the ground) No Issues. Airprox Filed.
|
|
|
07.10.2023 |
Male
Age:
57
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
1 year
7 hours
(7 hours)
|
Eype,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
Gin
Evora
Launch Type:
Foot |
Whilst coastal soaring Pilot lost height so decided to head for the beach landing area. Pilot realised they would not make the landing area so opted to land in the sea rather than land on rocks. Pilot managed to drag equipment ashore.
|
Unhurt |
|
04.10.2023 |
Male
Age:
44
Rating:
Pilot Rating
Flying Experience:
7 years
325 hours
(37 hours)
|
Babadag,
Turkey
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
Ozone
Alpina 4
Launch Type:
Foot |
In attempting to avoid tandem pilots pilot made fit landing and attempted to run off speed. Pilot suspects they caught foot on pod skirt causing bad landing.
|
Seriously Injured,
Feet, Legs
|
|
30.09.2023 |
Male
Age:
29
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
2 years
56 hours
(23 hours)
|
Beachy Head,
UK
Wind Strength:
20-25 km/h
Conditions:,
Strong Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Ozone
Swift 5
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot was unfamiliar with site and was flying with adverse wind direction for top landing. Pilot encountered strong turbulence on top landing approach. 40% asymmetric collapse was controlled by the pilot. Pilot safely bottom landed.
|
Unhurt |
|
25.09.2023 |
Male
Age:
71
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
21 years
1200 hours
(40 hours)
|
Thurnham,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Niviuk
Ikuma 2
Launch Type:
Foot |
On a top landing approach pilot flew behind another glider that was also on a landing approach and got caught in its wake turbulence.
|
Unhurt |
|
23.09.2023 |
Male
Age:
71
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
27 years
1145 hours
(56 hours)
|
Devil's Dyke,
UK
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Light Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Niviuk
Artik 6
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot hit sink while ridge soaring bringing pilot into head on conflict with other pilots. Pilot was now low and travelling down wind then collided with a fence.
|
Minor Injuries |
|
23.09.2023 |
|
Swyre Hill,
UK |
Paraglider |
During a training day instructor went for an air testing flight on one of the student's gliders. As instructor clipped in they noticed a crack to the R side waist (2 part T-type) buckle.
|
|
|
23.09.2023 |
Male
Age:
52
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
9 years
200 hours
(15 hours)
|
Devils Dyke,
UK
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Very Strong,
Very Strong Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Phi
Beat
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot took off into strong lift. After several seconds the glider suffered an asymmetric collapse. Pilot landed heavily.
|
Seriously Injured,
Lumbar Spine
|
|
22.09.2023 |
Male
Age:
51
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
34 years
1000 hours
(95 hours)
|
Dunstable,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Light Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Niviuk
Klimber 3p
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot was caught out by developing weather conditions and infringed airspace while trying to find a safe landing area.
|
Unhurt |
|
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
|
|
Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
|
