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.