British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

Incident Reports (Informal)

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:

• All Wing Types
• Paraglider
• Flexwing Hang Glider
• Rigid Hang Glider
• Speedrider
• Speedflyer/Miniwing
• Powered PG
• Powered HG
• Other

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 you want to search by incident date, please enter the day, month and year numerically as dd-mm-yyyy (eg. 03-12-2019).

All Wing Types Paraglider Flexwing Hang Glider Rigid Hang Glider Speedrider Speedflyer/Miniwing Powered PG Powered HG Other

or and

If known, total hours and total flights flown are displayed below together with hours and flights flown in the past six months, the latter being displayed in brackets.

There are 3239 entries for all wing types

Displaying page 46 out of 324

[ Top ] - [ Prev ] - [ Next ] - [ Bottom ]

Date	Pilot	Location	Wing Type	Summary	Injury
Incident Reports
Date 23.05.2021	Pilot Male Age: 58 Rating: AP Flying Experience: 38 years 1000 hours 1000 flights	Location Westbury, Wiltshire, UK Wind Strength: 40-45 km/h	Wing Type Rigid Hang Glider Wing: AIR Atos VRS Launch Type: Foot	Summary The pilot lost control of the wing on the launch area during a change in wind direction and increase in windspeed. The wing and pilot were lifted, blown backwards and dropped to the ground, which caused damage to the glider.	Injury Pilot: Minor Injuries, Pelvis
Date 19.05.2021	Pilot Male Age: 56 Rating: CP Flying Experience: 9 years 72 hours (10 hours) (6 flights)	Location Cefn Eglwysilan, Cardiff, UK Wind Strength: 25-30 km/h Conditions:, Moderate Turbulence	Wing Type Paraglider Wing: Advance Sigma 9 Launch Type: Foot	Summary The paraglider collapsed in a gust during a top landing and the pilot impacted heavily, sustaining injury.	Injury Pilot: Seriously Injured, Hands, Arms, Shoulder
Date 13.05.2021	Pilot Male Age: 50 Rating: CP Flying Experience: 28 years 100 hours (5 hours) (5 flights)	Location Mappleton, Hornsea, UK Wind Strength: 10-15 km/h Conditions: Calm, Not Turbulent	Wing Type Paraglider Wing: Advance Alpha 6 Launch Type: Foot	Summary The pilot was flying on a coastal site close to high tide. They performed a beach landing on a limited landing area. The pilot mis-judged the approach, landing in ankle deep seawater. The wing overflew the pilot and landed in the sea. Helpers reported that disconnection of the harness from the wing was hindered by plastic inserts in the speed system Brummell hooks, making recovery of the equipment from the sea more difficult.	Injury Pilot: Unhurt
Date 07.05.2021	Pilot Female Age: 59 Rating: AP Flying Experience: 25 years	Location Bradwell Edge, Derbyshire, UK Wind Strength: 15-20 km/h Conditions: Calm, Not Turbulent	Wing Type Paraglider Wing: Advance Epsilon 9 Launch Type: Foot	Summary During a flight made under the support of a Coach, the paraglider's bottom surface was seen to be deformed and the wing was in a continual right turn which the pilot was trying to counter with opposite weightshift. The pilot initiated a right turn towards an emergency landing field and the paraglider was seen to dive. The pilot managed to control the dive and land safely. The Coach believed a knot in the high level (unsheathed) B or C lines went undetected during the pre-flight check.	Injury Pilot: Unhurt
Date 07.05.2021	Pilot Female Age: 29 Rating: CP Flying Experience: 8 years 30 hours (3 hours) 200 flights (10 flights)	Location Milk Hill Bowl, Wiltshire, UK Wind Strength: 20-25 km/h Conditions: Calm, Moderate Turbulence, Front Influence	Wing Type Paraglider Wing: Ozone Buzz Z4 Launch Type: Foot	Summary The pilot was attempting to top land their paraglider in conditions where the the wind was increasing in strength, and was blown back into a field behind the launch area. On touchdown the pilot was dragged over a fence.	Injury Pilot: Minor Injuries, Pelvis
Date 07.05.2021	Pilot Male Age: 76 Rating: P Flying Experience: (3 hours)	Location Bradwell Edge, Derbyshire, UK Wind Strength: 15-20 km/h Conditions: Moderate, Light Turbulence	Wing Type Paraglider Wing: Ozone Mantra 3 Launch Type: Foot	Summary The pilot approached to top land at the downwind end of the top landing area, close to a known area of rotor. The paraglider was seen to collapse and descend vertically and the pilot impacted the ground.	Injury Pilot: Minor Injuries
Date 02.05.2021	Pilot Male Age: 59 Rating: P Flying Experience: 29 years 600 hours (5 hours) 1340 flights (20 flights)	Location Worcestershire Beacon, Malvern, UK Wind Strength: 10-15 km/h Conditions: Strong, Strong Turbulence	Wing Type Paraglider Wing: BGD Lynx Launch Type: Foot	Summary The pilot experienced a collapse in turbulent air and was unable to regain full control before impacting the slope.	Injury Pilot: Unhurt
Date 02.05.2021	Pilot Male Age: 52 Rating: CP Flying Experience: 6 years 60 hours (12 hours) 80 flights (18 flights)	Location Long Mynd, Shropshire, UK Wind Strength: 5-10 km/h Conditions: Moderate, Moderate Turbulence	Wing Type Paraglider Wing: Niviuk Hook 5 Launch Type: Foot	Summary The pilot lost control of their paraglider whilst ground handling in thermic conditions. The pilot was dragged over the ground and their emergency parachute was released, but did not inflate.	Injury Pilot: Unhurt
Date 23.04.2021	Pilot Male Age: 39 Rating: P Flying Experience: 10 years 85 hours (4 hours) 169 flights (5 flights)	Location Kettle Sings, Malverns, UK Wind Strength: 10-15 km/h Conditions: Calm, Light Turbulence	Wing Type Paraglider Wing: Ozone Rush 5 Launch Type: Foot	Summary The pilot activated the accelerator by pressing the speed bar which failed when the attachment knot to the bar came undone. The pilot landed safely.	Injury Pilot: Unhurt
Date 23.04.2021	Pilot Male Age: 29 Rating: P Flying Experience: 8 years 100 hours (10 hours) (10 flights)	Location Wrekin, Shropshire, UK Wind Strength: 15-20 km/h Conditions: Moderate, Moderate Turbulence	Wing Type Paraglider Wing: Air Design Rise 4 Launch Type: Foot	Summary The pilot set their paraglider up in the lip area of the southeast launch. The pilot started to inflate the wing in the strong conditions. The wing surged and the pilot was lifted and dropped back on the ground whilst attempting to regain control.	Injury Pilot: Unhurt

Last updated: 5 January 2025

Displaying page 46 out of 324

[ Top ] - [ Prev ] - [ Next ] - [ Bottom ]

A number of incident analysis reports are also available in the safety section of our website. These are compiled from the individual incident reports submitted during the course of each year.

• Go to: Safety
• Go to: Pilot Development
• Go to: Pilot Rating Scheme
• Go to: BHPA Courses
• Go to: Incident Reports (Informal)
• Go to: Incident Reports (Formal)
• Go to: Safety Notices
• Go to: CANP (Civil Aircraft Notification Procedure)
• Go to: NOTAMs (Notices to Aviation)
• Go to: Instructor & Coach Newsletters
• Go to: BHPA Documents
• Go to: BHPA Forms
• Go to: BHPA Fees