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 rigid 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 |
|
16.07.2016 |
Male
Age:
60
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
47 years
|
Ringstead,
UK
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
AIR
ATOS
Launch Type:
Foot |
Wind dropped on launch causing glider to drop in to long grass, which caught on base bar. Glider nosed in.
|
Unhurt |
|
06.06.2015 |
Male
Age:
42
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
27 years
200 hours
|
Cambridge Aerotow,
UK
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
AIR
Atos VQ
Launch Type:
Aero Tow |
Pilot suffered weak link failure at 20-30m. Pilot landed on feet in a stream.
|
Unhurt |
|
30.05.2015 |
Male
Rating:
Unknown
|
Frocester,
UK
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Light Turbulence |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
Solar
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot was seen to land downwind having made no attempt to turn into wind or remove his legs from his harness. Pilot was unconscious for 15 mins after incident.
|
Minor Injuries,
Head Injuries
|
|
10.05.2015 |
Male
Age:
39
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
16 years
(4 hours)
|
Newhaven Cliffs,
UK
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:,
Light Turbulence |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
Flight Design
Ghostbuster
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot misjudged his approach due to concerns about the number of paragliders in the area. Pilot eventually made crosswind approach but with more downwind component than expected. Pilot attempted to run off speed but basebar struck the ground and the glider flipped over.
|
Seriously Injured,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
29.12.2014 |
Male
Age:
51
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
48 years
600 hours
(7 hours)
|
Devils Dyke,
UK
Wind Strength:
20-25 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Light Turbulence |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
Flight Design
Exxtacy
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot took off with nose cone not fully fixed in position. This caused the glider to become very difficult to control as it wanted to pitch down. Pilot was able to make a controlled, but heavy, bottom landing.
|
Minor Injuries,
Head Injuries
|
|
09.11.2014 |
Male
Age:
54
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
44 years
4000 hours
(60 hours)
|
Ringstead,
UK |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
AIR
Atos vr
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pre-flight check revealed the outer sheath of the slider on the harness had worn away, and broken away, leaving just the inner cords exposed and supporting the hanging of the harness.
|
Unhurt |
|
24.06.2014 |
Male
Age:
50
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
23 years
1200 hours
(50 hours)
|
Col de Forclaz,
France
Wind Strength:
25-30 km/h
Conditions:
Strong,
Strong Turbulence |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
AIR
VR10T
Launch Type:
Foot |
No details available
|
Seriously Injured |
|
29.09.2013 |
Male
Age:
56
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
30 years
2000 hours
|
Swanborough,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:,
Not Turbulent |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
Aeros
Phantom
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot was disturbed during rigging a number of times to help others. Forgot to attach inboard control wire. Pilot took off and realised he had no ability to turn left. Pilot attempted to land but lost all control and crashed doing approx 60mph.
|
Seriously Injured |
|
18.05.2013 |
Male
Age:
50
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
27 years
|
Bell Hill,
UK
Wind Strength:
25-30 km/h
Conditions:
Strong |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
AIR
Atos VR
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot approached for top landing but had not gone far enough back. Elected to do big flare rather than overshoot resulting in glider climbing to 5m then diving into the ground.
|
Seriously Injured |
|
22.09.2012 |
Male
Age:
50
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
32 years
900 hours
|
Sywell Aerodrome,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
AIR
Atos C
Launch Type:
Aero Tow |
On launching the pilot could not move left hand down to base bar as it had become jammed in the join between upright and rear wire. Pilot was able to continue launch with one hand and then release jammed hand.
|
Unhurt |
|
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
|
|
Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
|
