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 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.
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 |
|
26.05.2013 |
Male
|
Long Mynd,
UK
Wind Strength:
20-25 km/h
Conditions:,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Moyes
Litespeed S
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot came in for top landing still in prone and on the base bar. Immediately prior to landing the hang glider wing struck the rear of a paraglider pilot who was packing his wing in the landing area. The hang glider crashed and the nose of the glider struck the pilot on the back of his neck.
|
Seriously Injured,
Cervical Spine
|
|
19.05.2013 |
Male
Age:
61
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
14 years
12 hours
|
Montmin,
France
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Avian
Rio
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot initiated ramp launch but was holding weight on uprights. Glider stalled off the end of the ramp struck a tree before spinning into smaller trees.
|
Minor Injuries |
|
12.05.2013 |
Male
Age:
37
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
23 years
600 hours
|
Mickfield,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
Talon
Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow |
Having rigged and checked his glider quickly the pilot prepared for a winch launch. Immediately prior to launch, while clipped in and ready to go, a sudden increase in wind caused the nose wire catch to fail. The launch was stopped. No reason for the failure was found.
|
Unhurt |
|
20.04.2013 |
Male
Age:
28
Flying Experience:
58 hours
|
Darley Moor,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
Falcon 3
Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow |
Having reached the top of the tow line the student found he could not release the line. The line was guillotined by the winch driver and the student followed emergency procedure and landed safely. A loose bolt on the release mechanism was found to be the cause.
|
Unhurt |
|
24.02.2013 |
Male
|
Big Fat Repack,
UK |
Flexwing Hang Glider |
During repack, parachute deployment handle was found to have pins taped up. Incorrect deployment bag/harness combination.
|
Unhurt |
|
24.02.2013 |
Male
|
Big Fat Repack,
UK |
Flexwing Hang Glider |
During a repack it was noted that the deployment handle had pins but there was nowhere for the pins on the harness. Parachute very difficult to deploy.
|
Unhurt |
|
27.10.2012 |
Male
Age:
64
Rating:
CP
Flying Experience:
47 years
2000 hours
|
North Hill,
UK
Wind Strength:
30-35 km/h
Conditions:,
Moderate Turbulence |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Moyes
Litespeed RS
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot made inadequate run on take off in marginal conditions. Glider dropped a wing and rotated back into the hillside before ground looping.
|
Minor Injuries,
Head Injuries
|
|
11.08.2012 |
Male
Age:
36
Flying Experience:
14 hours
|
Mendlesham,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Avian
Rio
Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow |
Student allowed glider nose to come up during initial tow and weak link snapped. Glider recovered and dived. Pilot impacted chest first.
|
Seriously Injured |
|
11.08.2012 |
Male
Age:
51
Rating:
P
Flying Experience:
34 years
1000 hours
|
Mendlesham,
UK
Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h
Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Airborne
C2
Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow |
Shortly after the launch the pilot discovered the second tow line was hooked over the release levers. Glider entered lockout and winch man cut power and line enabling pilot to make recovery and land.
|
Unhurt |
|
26.07.2012 |
Male
Age:
57
Rating:
AP
Flying Experience:
38 years
1000 hours
|
Chabre,
France
Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h
Conditions:
Moderate |
Flexwing Hang Glider
Wing:
Wills Wing
T2C
Launch Type:
Foot |
Pilot encountered lift on landing and glider turned. Pilot recovered but landed still turning. Glider hit the ground with one upright and spun round. Pilot unclipped the glider was flipped over by gust of wind causing some damage.
|
Unhurt |
|
Go to: Incident Reports (formal investigations)
|
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Go to: Annual Incident Analysis Reports
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