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 |
|
17.02.2017 |
Male
Age:
47
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
8 years
30 hours
(5 hours)
|
Whixhall,
UK
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Powered PG
Wing:
Ozone
Spyder
Launch Type:
Foot |
The pilot started his engine an left it idling as it had a clutch, while he sorted out his wing. On returning to the engine the pilot held the frame with his right hand and picked up the throttle with his left. On picking up the throttle up he accidentally applied pressure, causing the motor to lurch forward unexpectedly. The pilots hand slipped off the frame and into the moving prop.
|
Seriously Injured,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
07.02.2017 |
Male
Age:
42
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
15 years
85 hours
(11 hours)
|
Los Tanques,
Colombia
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Skyman
Cross Country
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot got low between two sets of power lines and opted to slope land. Pilot hit sink then suffered an asymmetric collapse landing heavily.
|
Seriously Injured |
|
31.01.2017 |
Male
Age:
46
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
35 years
3000 hours
(50 hours)
|
Porterville,
South Africa
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Very Strong Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Ozone
Zeno
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot suffered a frontal collapse with recovered with a 40-50% cravat. The pilot attempted to pump out the cravat but entered a spiral dive. Pilot deployed his emergency parachute but landed on a rock.
|
Seriously Injured,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
29.01.2017 |
Male
Age:
37
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
18 years
200 hours
(50 hours)
|
Val d'isere,
France
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Speedrider
Wing:
Gin Gliders
Nano
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot lost too much height on approach as he had not taken into account the strength of the valley wind. Pilot landed 10m short of landing area and caught glider on a lamp post, narrowly avoiding buildings and cars.
|
Unhurt |
|
25.01.2017 |
Male
Age:
49
Flying Experience:
8 years
1 hours
(1 hours)
|
New Lane,
UK
Wind Strength:
20-25 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Light Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Ozone
Mojo 3
Launch Type:
Foot |
Student attempted to top land in increasing winds. Student used speed bar but sustained an asymmetric collapse at about 5m. Student landed awkwardly while turning.
|
Minor Injuries |
|
22.01.2017 |
Male
Age:
66
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
12 years
|
Sarangkot,
Nepal
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
Swing
Arcus 6
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot landed in a tree then fell while attempting to climb down.
|
Fatal,
Internal Injuries
|
|
21.01.2017 |
Male
Age:
50
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
8 years
20 hours
(15 hours)
|
Blease Fell,
UK
Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
Airwave
Sport 3
Launch Type:
Foot |
While on approach to landing the pilot decided to land in a field adjacent to the landing field because of the close proximity of other landing pilots. Pilot was aware of the power line running parallel to the field but did not see the line running across the field. Glider struck line which snapped and the pilot fell to the ground.
|
Unhurt |
|
21.01.2017 |
Male
Age:
53
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
11 years
180 hours
(30 hours)
|
Local field,
UK
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Light Turbulence |
Powered PG
Wing:
Ozone
Roadster 2
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot was making an approach to a familiar landing area but in an unfamiliar wind direction. Pilot turned through a break in the trees into direct sunlight then realised he was heading for high voltage power lines. The pilot applied power and pulled hard right tip steering line. The pilot avoided the power lines but the glider entered a spin resulting in a heavy landing.
|
Seriously Injured |
|
21.01.2017 |
Male
Age:
38
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
18 years
183 hours
(16 hours)
|
Mercury,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
Bruce Goldsmith Design
Dual
Launch Type:
Foot |
Tandem pilot initiated landing flare but then let up causing a slight pendulum. Subsequent landing was heavier than usual, compounded by hard, frozen ground in landing area.
|
Pilot:
Minor Injuries
Feet, Legs
Passenger:
Unhurt |
|
04.01.2017 |
Male
Age:
52
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
20 years
507 hours
(23 hours)
|
Westbury,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
Advance
BiBeta 4
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot armed quickouts prior to tandem inflation in strong conditions to enable rapid release if necessary. Pilot intended to disarm prior to actual launch. Pilot forgot to disarm on launch but did so a few minutes into the flight.
|
Pilot:
Unhurt
Passenger:
Unhurt |
|
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
|
|
Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
|
