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 paraglider 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 |
|
20.08.2023 |
Male
Age:
59
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
11 years
120 hours
(6 hours)
|
Eype,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
BGD
Punk
Launch Type:
Foot |
While coastal soaring pilot strayed behind cliffs into an area of rotor turbulence. Pilot attempted to get forward but suffered an asymmetric collapse at low level and landed heavily.
|
Seriously Injured,
Lumbar Spine
|
|
14.08.2023 |
Female
Age:
33
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
1 year
12 hours
(8 hours)
|
Gozd,
Slovenia
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Moderate Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Gin
Bolero
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot misjudged wind direction and flew into turbulent air. Pilot lost height and crashed into a tree.
|
Minor Injuries |
|
04.08.2023 |
Male
Age:
40
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
1 year
10 hours
(23 hours)
|
Bell Hill,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h |
Paraglider
Wing:
Gradient
Bright 5
Launch Type:
Foot |
On a windy day the pilot walked down the slope to take off in lighter winds. On launching the pilot was lifted off with twisted risers into stronger conditions. Pilot was able to untwist but could not penetrate and was blown back onto a barb wire fence. Pilot was wearing two jackets which prevented serious injury on the barbed wire.
|
Unhurt |
|
03.08.2023 |
|
|
Paraglider
Wing:
Ozone
Rush 4 |
During annual inspection, damage / tears was spotted under the stiffening rods at the leading edge across numerous cells.
The pilot spent lockdown in Morocco (rocky takeoffs) and it is suspected the tears were caused by abrasion of the stiffening rods against the terrain.
|
|
|
03.08.2023 |
Male
Age:
66
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
23 years
810 hours
(23 hours)
|
Combe Gibbet,
UK
Wind Strength:
25-30 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Light Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Gin
Calypso
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot launched in windy conditions, having walked down the slope to avoid the stronger wind. Within seconds of launching the pilot experienced much stronger winds resulting in them being blown back despite use of speed bar. Pilot landed but was then dragged, damaging their equipment.
|
Unhurt |
|
25.07.2023 |
Male
Age:
30
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
Under a year
14 hours
(14 hours)
|
Carlton Bank,
UK
Wind Strength:
30-35 km/h
Conditions:,
Very Strong Turbulence,
Leeside |
Paraglider
Wing:
Gin
Atlas 2
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot took off in increasingly strong conditions and became pinned on full speed bar. Pilot was eventually blown back over hill and suffered numerous collapses. Pilot landed uninjured on feet in empty field.
|
Unhurt |
|
22.07.2023 |
Male
Age:
36
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
13 years
1150 hours
(15 hours)
|
Bridge of Don,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
Gin
Explorer
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot was coastal dune soaring with the wind slightly cross slope. During downwind beat the pilot misjudged height and struck a mound of sand and tussock grass. The wing dived forward and the pilot was dragged 20m.
|
Minor Injuries |
|
13.07.2023 |
Male
Age:
53
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
27 years
941 hours
(29 hours)
|
Parlick,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Calm |
Paraglider
Wing:
Phi
Maestro 2 |
At around flight 11 hours, Pilot noticed some furring on the sheath of the starboard break line below the keeper. On the reported date, during flight, the sheath broke and exposed the inner line, which also began to wear through.
|
Unhurt |
|
13.07.2023 |
Male
Age:
69
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
28 years
300 hours
(15 hours)
|
St Jean de Monts,
France
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
Nova
Mentor 4
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot forward launched in light wind conditions but immediately found their right hand trapped between the B and C risers. Pilot was unable to free hand and therefore had no right hand control. Pilot landed downwind on grassy slope.
|
Unhurt |
|
23.06.2023 |
Male
Age:
72
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
45 years
1000 hours
(10 hours)
|
The Reds,
UK
Wind Strength:
20-25 km/h
Conditions:,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
Swing
NYOS RS
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot made approach in strong winds and spun the glider, landing heavily.
|
Minor Injuries,
Lumbar Spine
|
|
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
|
|
Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
|
