N. Side Launch Bush Landing HG

Avid local PG and HG pilot launched the North Side, turned right and encountered sink while trying to turn away from the first spine he was to overfly. The hang glider did not respond to his efforts and he landed in a bush. No injury and no harm to the glider.

North Side Reserve Non - Injury

A new P2 on launched in advanced conditons, benched up and then allowed a lazy turn over the top of the hill. Recognizing the problem, he pointed into the wind, pushed speed bar and then took a large frontal deflation. He was pointed into the wind and pushed speed bar again, then took a large assymetric with subsequent strong turn. He threw his reserve and landed safely in the rotor without disabling the glider. 1)honor the P2 operating limitations as much as possible 2)consult your instructor before launching in unfamiliar or strong conditions 3)don't bench up when it is easy 4)be diligent not to drift over the top of any hill 5)don't use speed bar (especially in large amounts) when low 6)always release the speed bar (and feel sufficient brake) when a deflation is anticipated or when one manifests 7)disable the paraglider after deploying a reserve 8)always throw your reserve in strong rotor especially when low or when large diflations are manifesting in quick succession

Southern UT

An experienced and well trained P2 who was not current launched a gentle sloped launch with a long takeoff that ended with a drop off and a shelf below. The launch proceed in a text book fashion until the abrupt drop off when the glider deflated. The recovery from the deflation took place but not before the pilot encountered the lower shelf. Presumably, he hit the lower shelf and then flew back out into the air and subsequently came to rest some distance below the shelf. We all need to 1) actively work the brakes during the launch process to prevent deflations 2) be ready for the 1 in a 1000 deflation during the launch process and 3)need to choose foregiving sites when we are not current.