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 |
|
05.04.2017 |
Male
Age:
56
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
44 years
1500 hours
(5 hours)
|
Fairbourne,
UK
Wind Strength:
25-30 km/h |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Moyes
RX Pro
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot landed heavily in area of known rotor.
|
Seriously Injured,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
19.10.2016 |
Male
Age:
60
Rating:
CP
|
Devils dyke,
UK |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Seedwings
Space |
Pilot was struggling to attach nose wires. It transpired that the glider had been in a minor crash on landing and the replaced uprights were too long. The uprights were subsequently changed.
|
Unhurt |
|
15.10.2016 |
Male
Age:
49
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
22 years
170 hours
(3 hours)
|
Milk Hill,
UK
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
T2C
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot was flying slowly to maximise lift causing the wing to stall when turning into approach base leg. Glider landed heavily.
|
Unhurt |
|
02.10.2016 |
Male
Age:
47
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
38 years
2000 hours
(25 hours)
|
Model ridge,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Airwave
Calypso
Launch Type:
Foot |
Experienced pilot I chose to test fly the glider for a beginner. On rigging pilot noticed the compression struts were not totally tight but failed to appreciate that with the particular design if loose they could actually detach. The starboard side detached as the glider came under load and was found inside the sail. The resultant turn was unrecoverable and the glider turned and cartwheeled. Pilot chose to keep hold of the uprights rather than take any head impact. This resulted in both broken upper arms.
|
Seriously Injured,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
15.08.2016 |
Male
Age:
62
Rating:
Pilot hg
Flying Experience:
48 years
1000 hours
(20 hours)
|
Mendlesham,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Very Strong,
Strong Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Aeros
Discus
Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow |
No details available
|
Unhurt |
|
04.06.2016 |
Male
Age:
61
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
30 years
314 hours
(10 hours)
|
Griefenburg,
Austria
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent,
Rain, Snow |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
U2
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilots of similar weights and on same gliders, took off from same site at the same time on top to bottoms. They arrived at the landing area at the same time but due to switching winds, landed in opposite directions. Pilots avoided a collision by 6m.
|
Unhurt |
|
29.05.2016 |
Male
Age:
52
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
28 years
|
Monk's Down,
UK
Wind Strength:
25-30 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
U-2
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot was too slow and too high on approach to landing. Glider turned on landing and flipped over damaging uprights and tip wand.
|
Unhurt |
|
17.05.2016 |
Male
Rating:
P
|
St Hilaire de Touvet,
France
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Strong,
Moderate Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
Sport 2
Launch Type:
Foot |
The pilot made a ramp launch in thermic conditions with a cross wind. During the launch sequence the cross wind lifted the right wing tip causing the glider to turn left back towards the mountainside, where it impacted young trees, causing light damage to the glider.
|
Unhurt |
|
06.05.2016 |
Male
Age:
64
Rating:
Hang gliding pilot. Tow,aerotow,power.
Flying Experience:
31 years
330 hours
(4 hours)
|
Airways airsports,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Light Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills
U2
Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow |
While test flying a hang glider, pilot forgot to release the tow line. After a short circuit flight the pilot landed and noticed the line still attached.
|
Unhurt |
|
17.04.2016 |
Male
Age:
58
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
48 years
1320 hours
(65 hours)
|
Sutton Meadows,
UK
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:,
Light Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Bautek
Fizz
Launch Type:
Aero Tow |
One side of glider became caught on the launch trolley during aerotow launch. Glider nosed in. Suspected VB cleat caught on trolley frame.
|
Unhurt |
|
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
|
|
Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
|
