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 all wing types 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 |
15.05.2020 |
Male
Age: 51
Rating: P
|
Selsley Common, UK
Wind Strength: 5-10 km/h
Conditions: Moderate |
Paraglider
Wing: Skywalk Arak
Launch Type: Foot |
The pilot experienced a collapse in thermic air above takeoff. The pilot applied the controls in an attempt to damp the dive and control his pendulum under the wing. The wing was seen to descend vertically in a stalled state and the pilot impacted the hill.
|
Seriously Injured, Lumbar Spine
|
15.05.2020 |
Male
Age: 57
Flying Experience: 7 years 60 hours (3 hours)
|
Challow, UK
Wind Strength: 5-10 km/h
Conditions: Calm, Not Turbulent |
Powered PG
Wing: Dudek Universal
Launch Type: Powered
Engine: Parajet, Maverick |
Pilot was practising walking with the motor running on his back without a wing but slipped and fell over. Pilot released throttle but didn't hit the kill switch quickly enough. Throttle cable struck prop and wrapped round the exhaust. Kill switch did not function, with engine stuck on half throttle. Eventually exhaust melted throttle cable and engine stopped. No Injuries.
|
Unhurt |
15.05.2020 |
Male
Age: 51
Rating: P
Flying Experience: 19 years 500 hours
|
Combe gibbet, UK
Wind Strength: 10-15 km/h
Conditions: Moderate, Moderate Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing: Nova Mentor 5
Launch Type: Foot |
Pilot had mid-air collision with another paraglider while thermalling close to the ridge on a crowded day. Both pilots were unhurt.
|
Unhurt |
15.05.2020 |
Male
Age: 64
Rating: P
Flying Experience: 13 years 320 hours (12 hours)
|
Bo Peep, UK
Wind Strength: 10-15 km/h
Conditions: Calm, Not Turbulent |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing: Air Design Atos v
Launch Type: Foot |
Pilot encountered heavy sink while attempting to make an upslope landing. Pilot tried to turn away from the hill to bottom land but sinking air meant he landed in trees.
|
Unhurt |
17.03.2020 |
Male
Age: 65
Rating: CP
Flying Experience: 5 years 13 hours (13 hours)
|
Dunes, Morocco
Wind Strength: 15-20 km/h
Conditions: Calm, Not Turbulent, Front Influence |
Paraglider
Wing: Nova Ion 5
Launch Type: Foot |
Pilot intentionally stalled wing over sand from 2m to find stall point. On impact the emergency parachute deployed. Pilot noted that this had happened before from the Advance Progress 3 harness.
|
Unhurt |
16.03.2020 |
Male
Age: 31
Rating: CP
Flying Experience: 6 years 24 hours (16 hours)
|
Great Orme, UK
Wind Strength: 15-20 km/h
Conditions:, Moderate Turbulence, Front Influence |
Paraglider
Wing: Ozone Mojo 4
Launch Type: Foot |
The pilot was inadvertently lifted off his feet when reverse launching. He was dragged and struck the slope several times before the glider came to rest.
|
Minor Injuries, Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
13.03.2020 |
Male
Age: 55
Rating: P
Flying Experience: 8 years 150 hours (25 hours)
|
Marros, UK
Wind Strength: 15-20 km/h
Conditions:, Front Influence |
Paraglider
Wing: Ozone Rush 4
Launch Type: Foot |
The pilot was on final approach in deteriorating conditions and an approaching rain shower. He was lifted in turbulent air and carried downwind towards a power line. He stalled the paraglider at 3m agl in an attempt to touch down before reaching the power line, and landed unhurt.
|
Unhurt |
13.03.2020 |
Male
Age: 60
Rating: CP
Flying Experience: 46 years
|
Dunstable, UK
Wind Strength: 15-20 km/h
Conditions: Calm, Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing: Air Wave Calypso
Launch Type: Foot |
Pilot flew into hillside having apparently misjudged the amount of available lift.
|
Minor Injuries, Head Injuries
|
06.03.2020 |
Female
Age: 42
Rating: CP
Flying Experience: 6 years 9 hours (2 hours)
|
Cats Tor, UK
Wind Strength: 10-15 km/h
Conditions: Calm, Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing: Phi Symphonia
Launch Type: Foot |
Pilot slope landed but tripped on tussock once feet down. Broke fibula, no further injury.
|
Seriously Injured, Feet, Legs
|
06.03.2020 |
Male
Age: 21
Flying Experience: 12 years 1000 hours (50 hours)
|
Devil's Dyke, UK
Wind Strength: 15-20 km/h
Conditions: Calm, Light Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing: Ozone ZENO
Launch Type: Foot |
Pilot attempted to cobra launch his paraglider but was dragged into a group of people.
|
Unhurt |
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
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Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
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