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 flexwing hang glider wings 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 |
|
17.02.2015 |
Male
Age:
52
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
28 years
|
Devils dyke,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Moderate Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Moyes
Launch Type:
Foot |
While flying into wind above the top of the hill and slightly behind a run-down building, the pilot swooped down behind the building, peaking just before the front edge of the building. At this point he turned, clipping the left wing tip on the building which sent him face first into the ground.
|
Minor Injuries |
|
03.02.2015 |
Male
Age:
52
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
39 years
5000 hours
(100 hours)
|
El Penon,
Mexico
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot deployed 'drag chute' which became entangled in unzip string. Drag chute and unzip string were located on the same side of the harness.
|
Unhurt |
|
28.01.2015 |
Male
Age:
47
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
9 years
1 hours
(1 hours)
|
Mirador,
Spain
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Aeros
Target
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot stalled glider on landing approach.
|
Seriously Injured,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
24.01.2015 |
Female
Age:
54
Rating:
CPC HG Pilot PG
Flying Experience:
17 years
75 hours
(8 hours)
|
St Agnes Head,
UK
Wind Strength:
25-30 km/h
Conditions:,
Moderate Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
Sport 2 135
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot was caught out by heavy wind gradient at 10 feet above ground. Glider dived to gain airspeed resulting in heavy landing. Pilot did not let go of upright quickly enough resulting in injury.
|
Minor Injuries,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
29.12.2014 |
Male
Age:
52
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
34 years
1061 hours
(23 hours)
|
Herne Bay,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Moderate Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Solar Wings
Rumour 1
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot attempted to take off in turbulent air and was unable to gain enough airspeed to become properly airborne. Glider became caught on bushes and crashed down a small cliff.
|
Minor Injuries |
|
20.12.2014 |
Male
Age:
41
Rating:
P
|
Perranporth,
UK
Wind Strength:
30-35 km/h
Conditions:,
Light Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
Talon
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot was too slow on approach causing the glider to drop a wing. Pilot lost control of the glider while attempting to correct the turn. Landed heavily.
|
Minor Injuries |
|
28.10.2014 |
Age:
49
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
25 years
1000 hours
(50 hours)
|
Famara,
Spain |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Aeros
Discuc c
Launch Type:
Foot |
While holding the front wires under tension during a pre-flight check, the pilot noticed the rear wire snap at the end of the swage coming out of the keel. The pilot suspects that where the wire comes through the keel there is not enough clearance and no protection for the single wire coming out. While the glider is parked and the wind moves the glider it has slowly cut through the wire.
|
Unhurt |
|
08.09.2014 |
Male
Age:
53
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
10 years
|
Montmin,
France
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Avian
Rio
Launch Type:
Foot |
Hang glider pilot had mid-air collision with paraglider pilot while thermalling. Paraglider deployed parachute and landed in trees unhurt. Hang glider pilot was able to land safely.
|
Unhurt |
|
16.08.2014 |
Male
Age:
63
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
45 years
500 hours
(6 hours)
|
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Moyes
Litespeed LSD |
Pilot rigged and checked glider. While waiting for conditions to improve pilot unzipped keel zip to lubricate the VG. Pilot then completed short top to bottom before realising he had not done up the zip again.
|
Unhurt |
|
06.08.2014 |
Male
Age:
52
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
(20 hours)
|
Chabre south,
France
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
T2c
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot attempted to launch from a ramp in possible tail/side wind. Glider did not gain sufficient airspeed and subsequently stalled, hitting the hill to the side of the ramp.
|
Minor Injuries,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
|
|
Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
|
