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 |
|
07.08.2018 |
Male
Age:
56
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
39 years
5000 hours
(100 hours)
|
Long Mynd,
UK
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Strong Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Moyes
RX3.5 pro
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot took off into extreme turbulence, possibly caused by a dust devil, and was turned down wind into the hill. Pilot was able to flare hard and prevent significant damage to himself and the glider.
|
Unhurt |
|
31.07.2018 |
Male
|
Ringstead,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
ICARO
Laminar
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot landed cross-wind and slightly banked. Heavy landing broke carbon fibre base bar.
|
Unhurt |
|
08.07.2018 |
Male
Age:
24
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
8 years
25 hours
(3 hours)
|
Mendlesham,
UK
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
Eagle
Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow |
Pilot made emergency landing having aborted a tow due to the release activating prematurely as it caught on the basebar. Pilot made good landing but stubbed toe causing a fracture.
|
Minor Injuries |
|
23.06.2018 |
Male
Age:
50
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
19 years
200 hours
(6 hours)
|
Westbury,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Strong Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
Sport 2
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot made hurried launch in order to catch thermal upcycle, but failed to check true wind direction and made uncoordinated take-off with insufficient speed. Glider turned in towards side of hill sharply. Pilot applied full control weight shift to avoid collision with hill and went on to complete normal flight.
|
Unhurt |
|
10.06.2018 |
Male
Age:
49
Flying Experience:
5 years
16 hours
(6 hours)
|
Swanborough,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Avian
Rio 2 |
Student flew into the slope while attempting to soar. Student was twisting in the harness.
|
Unhurt |
|
28.05.2018 |
Male
Age:
43
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
30 years
487 hours
(11 hours)
|
Dodd Fell (East),
UK
Wind Strength:
20-25 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence,
Leeside |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Avian
Evo2
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot made approach to impromptu bottom landing field but did not anticipate steep wind gradient. Pilot landed fast causing minor damage to upright and A frame knuckle joint.
|
Unhurt |
|
20.05.2018 |
Male
Age:
43
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
30 years
487 hours
(11 hours)
|
Mendlesham,
UK
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Avian
Evo2
Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow |
Pilot crashed on take-off on winch launch. Pilot called "all out" before wind was fully on anticipating it would straighten but it did not. Also, possibility of thermal turbulence sinking down from above during launch pushing right wing down.
|
Minor Injuries,
Feet, Legs
|
|
09.05.2018 |
Male
Age:
38
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
9 years
4 hours
(1 hours)
|
Teba,
Spain
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Avian
Rio
Launch Type:
Foot |
On take off pilot started running went to basebar and pulled in without sufficient height to clear takeoff area. Pilot hit a rock which pulled the glider in to the ground.
|
Minor Injuries |
|
21.04.2018 |
Male
Age:
43
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
6 years
10 hours
(5 hours)
|
Rushup,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Light Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Avian
Fly
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot crashed while ridge soaring, possibly due to turbulence from trees on the site.
|
Seriously Injured,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
21.03.2018 |
Male
Age:
49
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
26 years
1000 hours
(20 hours)
|
Sutton Meadows,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Moyes
Litespeed
Launch Type:
Aero Tow |
On release at 2000' at the top of the aerotow the pilot's barrel release string wrapped around itself and knotted, causing itself, and hence the pilot, to remain connected from one side of the harness to the standard metal ring on the end of the tow line. Pilot was able to force a weak link break and landed safely.
|
Unhurt |
|
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
|
|
Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
|
