Hang Glider non injury

A hang glider testing a new glider and harness configuration took off and flew briefly before landing (into the wind and pointed away from the hill) in the bushes just below launch. The pilots high hang position created a lack of authority which made the glider unmanageable.

Speed Flyer North Side Injury

A speed flyer took a low deflation on the North Side and suffered a head injury. Contributing factors were that it was 3:00 in the afternoon on a strong, north day. The pilot flew behind the parking area where he was susceptible to the effects of rotor turbulence from the houses. Items of note: the pilots trim tabs were set on fast which invites deflation and makes recovery take longer. Also, this particular location and condition has contributed to two notable speed flyer crashes over the last 4-5 years.

The Y PG - non injury

A pilot pushing the speed bar took a deflation and subsequently had some riser twists with a medium intensity spiral. Despite trying to throw the reserve, the G's precluded him from a successful deployment. He landed in snow and was able to hike out. A comprehensive report may be forthcoming.

Feb. 23 Paraglider Acro ( west desert )

A paraglider practicing full stalls had a malfunction and deployed his reserve which tangled preventing it from opening completely.  The injuries were fatal. This post may be updated with further valuable information.

June 2013 N Side - Crash into Parking Lot w Injuries

During considerably strong and thermic conditions, a highly experienced pilot was on approach to land at the park while flying a hot 17m acro wing.  He chose to set up over the parking lot.  About 30-40' over the cars, he encountered some rough air indicative to the mid-afternoon conditions.  The correction inputs, in an attempt to keep the glider on track, resulted in a spin.  The lack of altitude left no options other than riding it into the ground.  He sustained several injuries including a broken wrist, as well as multiple fractures in his pelvis and left radius.

It's a much safer option to lose altitude and set up your approach over the HG landing field, West of the bathrooms.  Ideally, closer to the bench's edge.  In strong conditions, highly turbulent air can be found low and deep back on the bench from rotor.  That coupled with the thermals produced by the black top parking lot can create a dangerous situation...especially early when the sun is still high. 

June 15, 2013 - South Side - Glider Spin/Stall w Injuries

A fairly new P2 pilot had recently shortened his brakes in an effort to make his glider "more responsive".  A few days later, the glider was tested by his instructor, he was immediately warned that they were too short and could result in a spin or stall while attempting to make normal inputs.  He had also been warned to discontinue practice of wing-overs until further coaching could be done high over water with a qualified instructor.

Late in the morning on the South Side, in thermic conditions, the pilot was sinking out part way down the hill.  Once he realized that he wasn't going to make it back up for a top landing, he started doing wing-overs near the terrain to quickly kill altitude before a landing at the bottom.  Upon exit of his last wing-over, his glider surged forward and his inputs (with unreasonably short brake lines) put the glider into a spin.  He fell from aprox 25' and impacted the flats at the foot of the hill.

He suffered a broken wrist, bruised hip and fairly serious concussion.     

North Side Traffic - Controlled Flight Into Terrain - Injury

A visiting pilot of unknown experience level was taking his first flight on the north side in crowded conditions.  He had received a site briefing and had been soaring for 10 minutes – got in a tight traffic situation and turned toward the hill – was unable to turn away…

The take away from this event is threefold;

Number one try not to let the story be that the traffic caused you to turn toward the hill - better to turn away from the hill early then at the hill late.

Number two, if you must land into a piece of terrain, a person or an object like a vehicle then still flare completely before meeting the object – paragliders are slow enough that with a full flare an encounter with an object can be semi uneventful. 

Number three, if you anticipate an encounter with the terrain then continue to look and lean and turn away - flare and fly the glider throughout the impact in an effort to decrease the velocity of the encounter with the terrain.

The pilots sentiment post event was that he wish he would have headed out to land earlier as he had already had a nice flight and since the traffic was getting worse.

The pilot suffered a fracture of the L2 vertebra.