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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.

Hang Glider (Courtesy Darren Blackman)

Incident reports are available in summary form for the following wing types:

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

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 2542 entries for paraglider wings

Displaying page 13 out of 255

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Date Pilot Location Wing Type Summary Injury
Incident Reports

Date
04.07.2024

Pilot
Unknown
Location
N/A,
UK

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Nova
Mentor 7 Light

Summary
During a routine service, the service centre noted a metal connector (unbranded "Maillon" type) between riser and lines had two or three turns of thread visible below the closing nut (when closed). Upon further examination it was evident that the nut could be wound fully up the top thread with little resistance, fully exposing the bottom thread and therefore opening the connector.

Injury
Pilot:
Unhurt

Date
03.07.2024

Pilot
Male

Age:
32

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
3 years

50 hours
(3 hours)

150 flights
(10 flights)

Location
Buljarica,
Čanj,
Montenegro

Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h

Conditions:
Calm,
Moderate Turbulence

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Nova
Mentor 7

Launch Type:
Foot

Summary
The pilot chose to land in a field other than the designated landing field, selecting a field with a small hill at its upwind end. They approached the upwind end of the landing field and became aware of turbulence in the lee of the hill. The pilot opted to make a 360 degree turn and lost height rapidly in the turn. They hit the ground during the downwind part of the turn and sustained injury.

Injury
Pilot:
Seriously Injured,

Feet, Legs

Date
30.06.2024

Pilot
Male

Age:
58

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
26 years

1100 hours
(50 hours)

1000 flights
(25 flights)

Location
Kobala,
Tolmin,
Slovenia

Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h

Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Ozone
Alpina 3

Launch Type:
Foot

Summary
The pilot mistimed their landing flare, causing the wing to climb and then stall, dropping the pilot to the ground where they sustained injury.

Injury
Pilot:
Seriously Injured,

Feet, Legs

Date
26.06.2024

Pilot
Male

Age:
43

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
9 years

36 hours
(12 hours)

175 flights
(38 flights)

Location
Rushup Edge,
Hope Valley, Peak District,
UK

Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h

Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
BGD
Epic

Launch Type:
Foot

Summary
The pilot took action to deconflict with another paraglider on final approach to land, and clipped the top of a dry stone wall.

Injury
Pilot:
Unhurt

Date
24.06.2024

Pilot
Male

Age:
62

Rating:
CP

Location
Nont Sarahs,
Huddersfield,
UK

Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h

Conditions:
Calm,
Light Turbulence

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Nova
Mentor 7 light

Launch Type:
Foot

Summary
The pilot collided with rocks whilst soaring in light winds. The impact was seen to be on the base of the harness. The pilot cited distraction due to altering harness settings in flight.

Injury
Pilot:
Seriously Injured,

Lumbar Spine

Date
23.06.2024

Pilot
Male

Age:
27

Rating:
CP

Flying Experience:
4 years

6 hours
(6 hours)

40 flights
(40 flights)

Location
Bradwell Edge,
Derbyshire,
UK

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Gin
Bolero 4

Launch Type:
Foot

Summary
The pilot launched in sinking air and initially was able to steer around ground obstacles before colliding with a large tree.

Injury
Pilot:
Unhurt

Passenger:
Unhurt

Date
22.06.2024

Pilot
Female

Age:
64

Rating:
CP

Flying Experience:
4 years

22 hours
(4 hours)

62 flights
(10 flights)

Location
Latrigg,
Keswick, Cumbria,
UK

Wind Strength:
30-35 km/h

Conditions:
Calm,
Moderate Turbulence

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Air Design
Eazy 2 S/L

Launch Type:
Foot

Summary
The pilot took action to counter a frontal collapse on final approach to land. The paraglider turned sharply to the left, the canopy settling over a large tree. The pilot was suspended in the lower branches and was recovered by the Fire Brigade.

Injury
Pilot:
Unhurt

Date
21.06.2024

Pilot
Male

Age:
57

Rating:
CP

Flying Experience:
34 years

500 hours
(15 hours)

700 flights
(12 flights)

Location
Parlick,
Pennines,
UK

Wind Strength:
15-20 km/h

Conditions:
Moderate,
Strong Turbulence

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Advance
Epsilon 9

Launch Type:
Foot

Summary
The pilot experienced an asymmetric collapse on landing approach in thermic conditions. The paraglider re-inflated close to the ground and a successful landing was made. The pilot noted they made control input errors, and the paraglider re-inflated when the controls were released.

Injury
Pilot:
Unhurt

Date
21.06.2024

Pilot
Male

Age:
48

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
28 years

600 hours
(2 hours)

(4 flights)

Location
Silecroft,
Silecroft, Cumbria,
UK

Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h

Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Advance
Iota

Launch Type:
Foot

Summary
The pilot was soaring along a dune on a beat with a downwind component. Their harness contacted the dune and the paraglider then asymmetrically collapsed, dragging the pilot over the dune and into a fence post, where the pilot sustained injury.

Injury
Pilot:
Seriously Injured

Date
17.06.2024

Pilot
Male

Age:
73

Rating:
CP

Flying Experience:
8 years

67 hours

153 flights
(2 flights)

Location
Woolacombe,
Devon,
UK

Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h

Conditions:
Moderate,
Moderate Turbulence

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Phi
Beat Light

Launch Type:
Foot

Summary
After take-off the pilot became aware that the outer A-line riser was trapped in the speed system link (between A and B risers), causing the wingtip to be pulled in. The pilot opted to land immediately and touched down safely. When the load came off the riser after touchdown, the trapped riser released itself back to its normal configuration.

Injury
Pilot:
Unhurt

Last updated: 13 November 2025

Displaying page 13 out of 255

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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.

 

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