Paragliding
British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association logo

British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

safety
incidents
reports

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.

Square parascending canopy (Courtesy Ann Underwood)

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 245 out of 255

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

Date Pilot Location Wing Type Summary Injury
Incident Reports

Date
12.02.2002

Pilot
Male

Age:
47

Rating:
P

Location
Sierra De Lujar,
Spain

Wind Strength:
8-16 km/h

Conditions:
Smooth/Steady

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Ozone
Electron

Launch Type:
Foot (Forward)

Summary
Following a 6000ft top to bottom flight the pilot failed to turn into wind whilst high enough - he therefore decided to land downwind at which point he noticed a 3ft high wall. With no time for alternative options he flew into the wall.

Injury
Pilot:
Compound fracture to femur (l). blood loss.

Date
13.01.2002

Pilot
Male

Age:
32

Rating:
CP

Location
Monte Carlo,
Monaco

Wind Strength:
0-8 km/h

Conditions:
Thermic

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Pro Design
Effect 38

Launch Type:
Foot (Forward)

Summary
Whilst soaring in thermal lift two paragliders collided causing a tear to one of them. The pilot managed to land safely.

Injury
Pilot:
Shock.

Date
06.01.2002

Pilot
Female

Age:
45

Rating:
CP

Location
Mount Pleasant,
Barbados

Wind Strength:
16-24 km/h

Conditions:
Smooth/Steady

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Nova
Axon

Launch Type:
Foot (Assisted)

Summary
No details available

Injury
Pilot:
Fractured vertebra lower back.

Date
01.01.2002

Pilot
Male

Age:
39

Rating:
CP

Location
Chillerton,
UK

Wind Strength:
16-24 km/h

Conditions:
Turbulent

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Independence
Dragon

Launch Type:
Foot (Reverse)

Summary
Whilst performing a 360 degree turn the pilot encountered sinking air resulting in a loss of altitude. The pilot clipped the hillside whilst exiting the turn.

Injury
Pilot:
Fractured vertabrae * 2, broken finger nail.

Date
29.12.2001

Pilot
Male

Age:
18

Location
Hunstanton,
UK

Wind Strength:
+ 48 km/h

Conditions:
Gusts

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Apco
Astra

Summary
Instructor attempting to demonstrate hand towing in 30mph wind in front of hill Student held the tow line whilst the Instructr assited another student who was clipped into the harness / canopy. All three were dragged back.

Injury
Unknown


Date
23.12.2001

Pilot
Male

Age:
55

Rating:
P

Location
Middle Wallop,
UK

Wind Strength:
0-8 km/h

Conditions:
Smooth/Steady

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Firebird
G Sport

Launch Type:
Vehicle/Boat Tow

Summary
No details available

Injury
Pilot:
Cut foot.

Date
14.12.2001

Pilot
Male

Age:
67

Rating:
CP

Location
At Villa In Lanzarote,
Spain

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Apco
Allegra

Summary
Pilot bought harness froma chief coach which was subsequently discovered to be in poor condition and unsuitable.

Injury
Unknown


Date
28.11.2001

Pilot
Male

Age:
37

Location
Unknown

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Up
Makalu L

Summary
Pilot shortened the lines attached to the speed bar, this caused the speedbar to be applied during weight shift turns as the extra weight on the front of the harness seat would press on the speed bar.

Injury
Unknown


Date
16.11.2001

Pilot
Male

Age:
39

Location
Shining Tor,
UK

Wind Strength:
0-8 km/h

Conditions:
Smooth/Steady

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Ozone
Electron

Launch Type:
Foot (Forward)

Summary
During light wind forward launch pilot appeared to encounter sinking air. The student continued to run, but stepped onto uneven ground resulting in a broken ankle.

Injury
Pilot:
Fr tibia and fibula, dl metatarsal.

Date
04.11.2001

Pilot
Female

Age:
25

Location
Beddingham,
UK

Wind Strength:
0-8 km/h

Conditions:
Smooth/Steady

Wing Type
Paraglider

Wing:
Apco
Prima Xix

Launch Type:
Foot (Forward)

Summary
Student forward launched assymetrically which caused her to fall over.

Injury
Pilot:
Fr wrist

Last updated: 13 November 2025

Displaying page 245 out of 255

[ 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.

 

Skywings Magazine Online
Submit an Incident Report
BHPA Pilot Handbook
The BHPA is a members of the Royal Aero Club
The BHPA is a member of the European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union
The Civil Aviation Authority Drone and Model Aircraft Code
The General Aviation Safety Council Flight Safety Magazine

© British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association 2004 - 2025