On about March 10 an intermediate pilot attempted to launch from an unfamiliar nontraditional location. Due to strong turbulence the paraglider collapsed and the pilot sustained serious leg injuries.
The pilot was alone with no way to call for help. As a result the pilot endured a long, life threatening self extraction.
Lessons learned;
See the Book-of-Risk paragraph under "Flight in knowable turbulence"
How to avoid it.
Study the weather a lot, read a lot of books about weather especially related to paragliding and hang gliding:
Understanding the Sky by Dennis Pagen
Thermal Flying by Burkhard Martens
Mastering Thermaling by Kelly Farina
Weather for Dummies
Talk about the weather to other pilots you fly with.
How to mitigate the consequences.
Don’t fly closer than 500 feet to the ground, except at take off and landing, anywhere that turbulence might be present. See Thermic Scratching above.
Learn and follow set guidelines for throwing your reserve. See Late or no reserve deployment in the Book of Risk.
Always fly with a satellite tracking device, example Spot or Garmin in reach, whenever flying alone.
Always fly with a satellite tracking device, example Spot or Garmin in reach, whenever flying alone.
