Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Early in the evening, when conditions were still strong, a highly experienced and talented pilot launched a high-performance acro glider. Lift was strong, so the pilot immediately went up upon reaching the end of the finger. At about 40 feet, the glider suffered a violent full frontal collapse and the pilot dropped. Just a few feet from impact in a gully, the glider re-inflated and surged forward. The pilot had the presence of mind to bury the brakes to keep the glider from 'diving'. Given the circumstances and how close this was happening to the ground, this action may have helped avoid a harder impact. Pilot impacted the hill on the steepest part of a gully in very soft sand avoiding any injury.
He was quick to acknowledge that he rushed to the park from work and was in a hurry to get into the sky without full analysis of the conditions. He also remarked that his "head wasn't fully in it".
The take-away: If you are in a rush to get airborne, it's always good to check yourself, take a deep breath and stop to smell the roses. It never hurts to chat with other trusted pilots that have been sitting on the hill observing the conditions for hours. Methodically put the pieces of the puzzle together and make an informed decision.
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