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 |
|
15.06.2021 |
Male
Age:
46
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
12 years
210 hours
(20 hours)
|
Nant-Y-Moel,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent |
Paraglider
Wing:
Advance
Bi-Beta 6
Launch Type:
Foot |
During a tandem launch the Advance Hybrid hard spreader rotated around its in-built carbon bar and locked in this position when under the load of the pilot and passenger. The pilot landed without incident.
|
Pilot:
Unhurt
Passenger:
Unhurt |
|
15.06.2021 |
Male
Age:
61
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
38 years
1000 hours
(19 hours)
|
Sutton Meadows,
UK
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent |
Rigid Hang Glider
Wing:
A-I-R
VR
Launch Type:
Aero Tow |
Immediately prior to the aerotow commencing the conditions were nil wind. When "all out" was called, the left wing rose first and continued to rise out of the trolley, caught by a sudden crosswind. The right wingtip came into contact with long grass, turning the glider and trolley. The weak link broke, but the glider had left the runway and stopped nose down in crops.
|
Minor Injuries,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
14.06.2021 |
Male
Age:
64
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
21 years
1500 hours
(20 hours)
|
Telegraph Hill,
UK |
Paraglider
Wing:
Advance
X Alps 3
Launch Type:
Foot |
The pilot became aware during flight that a hook knife had been left inside the paraglider. The pilot landed without incident. Upon inspection it was found that the hook knife had caused damage to the wing's internal structure.
|
Unhurt |
|
12.06.2021 |
Male
Age:
55
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
29 years
1200 hours
(40 hours)
|
Brecon Beacons,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Advance
Sigma 10
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot suffered asymmetric collapse having encountered sever turbulence. Due to low altitude pilot deployed emergency parachute. Pilot landed on hillside without injury.
|
Unhurt |
|
12.06.2021 |
Male
Age:
62
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
10 years
228 hours
(20 hours)
|
Hay Bluff,
UK
Wind Strength:
25-30 km/h
Conditions:,
Moderate Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Advance
Iota
Launch Type:
Foot |
During take-off, the pilot's foot caught a line of another paraglider on the ground. The other pilot managed to untangle the line and the launch was then able to proceed.
|
Unhurt |
|
09.06.2021 |
Male
Age:
50
Rating:
P
|
Milk Hill,
UK
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Advance
Sigma 10
Launch Type:
Foot |
The pilot was seen to induce a spin at between 50 to 100ft above takeoff. The pilot then made a subsequent control input, stalling the glider to the ground.
|
Seriously Injured,
Thoracic Spine
|
|
08.06.2021 |
Male
Age:
64
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
45 years
650 hours
(20 hours)
|
Sutton Meadows,
UK |
Other
Wing:
Unknown
Hang Glider launch trolley |
After the final, successful, aerotow launch of the day the launch trolley front left side wheel bracket was discovered to be bent and broken on one side. Subsequent inspection found cracks in three of the four flanges on top of the bottom end of the support struts to which the two front wheels attach.
|
Unhurt |
|
05.06.2021 |
Male
Age:
49
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
27 years
2000 hours
(40 hours)
|
Pen Cerrig calch,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Strong Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Gin
Leopard
Launch Type:
Foot |
The pilot was ridge soaring in thermic conditions. They encountered sinking air on a downwind beat and were unable to turn away from the hill due to flight paths of other pilots. The pilot was unable to out-glide the shallow slope and impacted the ground.
|
Minor Injuries,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
05.06.2021 |
Male
Age:
64
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
27 years
1000 hours
(30 hours)
|
Pen Cerrig calch,
UK
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence |
Paraglider
Wing:
Flow Paragliders
Fusion Light
Launch Type:
Foot |
The pilot flew close to the hill in thermic conditions in order to observe an incident / activity on the ground. The paraglider experienced an asymmetric collapse, turning it towards the hill. The pilot's corrective control input stalled the paraglider and the pilot impacted the ground.
|
Seriously Injured,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder
|
|
04.06.2021 |
Female
Age:
60
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
13 years
800 hours
(1 hours)
|
Westbury White Horse,
UK
Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h |
Paraglider
Wing:
Ozone
Rush 5
Launch Type:
Foot |
The pilot was blown back on launch and collided with a bench. The pilot considered they did not take sufficient time to assess the wind speed.
|
Unhurt |
|
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
|
|
Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
|
