South Side PG collision avoidance spin event accident

An experienced pilot was soaring the southside late in the morning and slightly active conditions when a traffic situation presented itself – he made a deliberate move to avoid another pilot and then a subsequent turn to orient into the wind for a top landing. He was observed to have spun the glider at low altitude.

The pilot remarked that his choice of his old glider was a contributing factor to the low level spin.

We are all reminded to weight shift in an athletic fashion – every single turn off our flying lives. Not just because it increases enjoyment confidence and performance but rather because it reduces the odds that we will suffer a spin event inadvertently when we need an emergency turn.

Finally – beware of the dangers of combining less than ideal equipment – changing conditions and traffic.

 The pilot was transported to the hospital but subsequently released with only minor injuries.

North Side bench paraglider circle into hill – back injury

An experienced pilot flying his new Acro glider for the first time was observed to be flying wildly in slightly turbulent post frontal conditions. He executed a circle at low altitude on the northside bench and met with of the hill resulting in a back injury.

This is the anatomy of a commonplace accident in which edgy conditions – new equipment and aggressive flying combined with a poor tactical decision and an accident.

All pilots are reminded of these factors and specifically that executing a circle on a low ridge with wind and sorted thermals is a slippery slope. We all do it but the choice to make a circle should not be taken lightly.

North Side high wind launch gone wrong – mini wing – ankle injury

An experienced mini wing pilot launching from the three-quarter north side launch had a wild take off with a partial deflation and some fries or twist that resulted in an encounter with the hill. His injury was a broken ankle.

He immediately released the brakes to steer from above the twist which was commendable but the event happened too quickly for him to steer away from the hill and correct the deflation
All pilots are reminded that steep launches in wind with little canopies happen quickly and we are all susceptible to this sort of random malfunction.