Hang Glider

British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

Incident Reports - Informal Investigations

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 are available in summary form for the following wing types:

Incident reports for flexwing 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.

or and

If available, total hours flown and hours flown in the previous six months are included below, with the latter displayed in brackets.

There are 403 entries for flexwing hang glider wings

Displaying page 13 out of 41

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Date Pilot Location Wing Type Summary Injury
09.11.2013 Female

Age:
53

Rating:
AP

Flying Experience:
44 years
6000 hours

Darley Moor,
UK

Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Flexwing Hang Glider

Wing:
Wills Wing
Falcon 3

Launch Type:
Aero Tow
Pilot released the leader rope from the keel but the rope caught on the tow rope ring and became knotted. Weak link broke and pilot was able to continue the flight.

Unhurt
09.10.2013 Male

Age:
40

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
30 years
130 hours

Woolacombe,
UK

Wind Strength:
25-30 km/h

Conditions:,
Not Turbulent
Flexwing Hang Glider

Wing:
Wills Wing
Sport 2

Launch Type:
Foot
While testing the air the pilot unknowingly became close enough to a naval helicopter to experience turbulence from the rotors. The situation was discussed at club level and later at a meeting with the local squadron.

Unhurt
01.09.2013 Male

Age:
26



Muggery,
UK

Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h

Conditions:,
Not Turbulent
Flexwing Hang Glider

Wing:
Airbourne
Fun

Launch Type:
Foot
Student hung onto top of control frame pulling glider down onto wheels and his knees.

Seriously Injured,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder

27.08.2013 Male

Age:
57

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
38 years
178 hours

Monk's Down,
UK

Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h

Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence
Flexwing Hang Glider

Wing:
Airbourne
Sting

Launch Type:
Foot
Pilot miscalculated wind and landed in tailwind on glider wheels. Grazed knees due to wearing shorts.

Minor Injuries,
Feet, Legs

10.08.2013 Male

Age:
32

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
18 years
200 hours

Long Mynd,
UK

Wind Strength:
20-25 km/h

Conditions:,
Not Turbulent
Flexwing Hang Glider

Wing:
Wills Wing
T2C

Launch Type:
Foot
Pilot overcorrected final turn and set up oscillation he could not correct before landing Pilot landed heavily on the base bar.

Minor Injuries,
Head Injuries

10.08.2013 Male

Age:
38

Rating:
AP

Flying Experience:
29 years
336 hours

Ager,
Spain

Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h

Conditions:
Moderate,
Light Turbulence
Flexwing Hang Glider

Wing:
Avian
Evo 2

Launch Type:
Foot
Pilot landed then noticed his parachute had fallen out of the container. Suspects harness had pulled against the handle which had then become detached by a jolt on landing.

Unhurt
09.08.2013 Male

Age:
40

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
19 years
115 hours

Woolacombe,
UK

Wind Strength:
30-35 km/h

Conditions:,
Not Turbulent
Flexwing Hang Glider

Wing:
La Mouette
Sphinx Bi

Launch Type:
Foot
Pilot commenced take off run but one wing dropped and stalled as glider took off. Glider turned and landed in bushes.

Minor Injuries,
Feet, Legs

04.08.2013 Male

Age:
36



Muggery Bottom,
UK

Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h

Conditions:,
Not Turbulent
Flexwing Hang Glider

Wing:
Airbourne
Fun

Launch Type:
Foot
Student was flying the glider too slowly and so it did not respond to pilot input. Student landed heavily spraining ankle.

Minor Injuries,
Feet, Legs

30.06.2013 Male

Age:
45

Rating:
CP

Flying Experience:
10 years
2 hours

Tehidy Barton,
UK

Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h

Conditions:,
Not Turbulent
Flexwing Hang Glider

Wing:
Wills Wing
Sport 2

Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow
During tow launch pilot allowed glider to lift off too early. It then started to drift and the pilot did not correct the turn. Winch backed off and glider nosed in. Pilot did not let go resulting in broken arm.

Seriously Injured,
Hands, Arms, Shoulder

08.06.2013 Male

Age:
61

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
32 years
500 hours

Mam Tor,
UK

Wind Strength:
20-25 km/h

Conditions:
Strong
Flexwing Hang Glider

Wing:
Avian
Rio

Launch Type:
Foot
During 'pre-flight' check the pilot noticed the nut had fallen off the bolt that holds the port side upper and lower wires. The nut could mort be found so the pilot could not fly.

Unhurt
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
Last updated: 7 December 2023

Displaying page 13 out of 41

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