by Jeff Goin | Jul 22, 2024 | 09: Airspace, Accident Reports, Recent
To my knowledge, this is a first. [Originally published Dec 21, 2021 at 0608] Dec 21 at around 9am a single-engine Cessna 208 (Caravan) flying as a UPS contract carrier, collided with a powered paraglider, killing both pilots. According to this source the aircraft was...
by Jeff Goin | Nov 2, 2020 | Accident Reports, Log: Hang Glider, Recent
There I was, enjoying a little cruise about the countryside, visiting many of my local haunts, including a flyby of runway 4 at Kermit Week’s Fantasy of Flight. Just before reaching the intersection of Fantasy’s two runways, I throttled up to climb. ...
by Mee Too | Oct 11, 2020 | 04: First Flight Prep, Accident Reports, Propeller Safety, Recent
This was a first to me. Thanks to Sam for sharing his experience so we all can learn. After mounting a motor on a frame, he started it on the ground, is the most common practice. At idle and half power it was fine but when he went to full power the prop flexed into...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2020 | Accident Reports
Launches near center of field, heading ACROSS it. Doesn’t keep turning left. Wire strike immediately shorts lines, which cut off power, saving his life. The video makes it look like he just launched into wires. Was it just a severe misjudgment? Or was there...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2020 | Accident Reports
This poor fellow was alive when they got a rope to him, but the paramotor likely progressively soaked up water, the tubes filled, and he couldn’t get out of the harness and/or lines that were wrapping around him. He had the rope. He was HOLDING the rope but got...
by Jeff Goin | Nov 28, 2019 | Accident Reports
Most accidents happen for predictable and preventable causes: Poor training, steep maneuvering, especially near the ground, water and turbulence are big risks in that order. If water landing is a possibility, have an auto-inflating device in your paramotor. If...
by Jeff Goin | Jul 3, 2019 | Accident Reports
Someone sent me a link to this crash, apparently in Thailand but I’m not sure. It graphically exposes something that I’ve covered a lot: the extraordinary risk of doing steep maneuvering low to the ground. I’ve lost two friends from this. Much like...
by Jeff Goin | Jul 2, 2019 | 04: First Flight Prep, Accident Reports
Big kudos to this pilot for sharing his video. If only we could all be so selfless. Also, check out his composure while lying there on the ground with broken things—that’s one tough dude. I got a question from a student learning to paramotor who is having second...
by Jeff Goin | Jun 24, 2019 | Accident Reports, Propeller Safety
I read this on social media and cringed. The pilot was doing everything right—his machine was on a rack for starting that wasn’t enough. What happened next was unexpected and terrifying. Either he throttled up or it went to power and it lunged toward him....
by Jeff Goin | Jun 23, 2019 | Accident Reports
A pilot participating in the UK Icarus X Series paramotor race has died. It’s a tragedy on many levels but mostly for the family, of course. These are nearly always vibrant people in prime condition who love life. As one who competed for years in more...
by Jeff Goin | Jun 15, 2019 | Accident Reports
This was asking for it. A paramotor tandem was launching in a crowded area with people all around, including at the end of his “runway.” He barely gets airborne then, just a few feet above the ground, and barely climbing, he turns. The turn may have felt...
by Jeff Goin | Jun 5, 2019 | Accident Reports
A recent fatality in South Florida appears to have been structural failure. According to the accident report on USPPA.org all indications point to a riser failure. One riser broke and the pilot plummeted to his death. A reserve was tossed but not in time to open. So...
by Jeff Goin | May 1, 2019 | Accident Reports, Propeller Safety
A horrible accident happened while a pilot was walking with his paramotor. It was idling but, at some point, possibly after powering up to warm it up, the throttle stuck at a high power and he lost his footing, falling mostly sideways then face down. It went to nearly...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2019 | Accident Reports
Thermally conditions dump experienced PPG pilot A mid-day sojourn in moderate winds went sour for one high-time paramotorist resulting in a nearly disastrous impact. Surprisingly, the pilot walked (probably limped) away. At 20 feet or so while landing, a quick...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2019 | Accident Reports
On Friday evening, several hours after I had left, tragedy struck when Richard Biggerstaff (right) was, according to two witnesses, doing a spiral from which he hit the ground. There was a small post-impact fire that was extinguished almost right away. Another pilot...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2019 | Accident Reports
This enforces how surprisingly dangerous tree “landings” can be Sherburne Country Sheriff, 45°25’10.16″N – 94° 1’6.58″W. It was covered in Brainerd Dispatch CLEAR LAKE — A 54-year-old Brainerd man died Saturday after he...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2019 | Accident Reports
The lessons in this captivating and sad story could save my life, maybe yours, too. A hiker got lost in the woods and faced a cold night in deteriorating weather. This is the story of a helicopter rescue gone horribly wrong. It is a powerful reminder of forces that...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2019 | Accident Reports
One of the sport’s more common control-related accident types See also Understanding Paramotor Torque, Fixing Torque By Hand At this point he has twisted 90 degrees to the wing, looking towards his right hand, and still under power. This is the natural torque...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2019 | 15: Advanced Ground Handling, Accident Reports
Playing around cost me my first-ever hospital admission After 2 days of flying my brains out at Glammis Dunes we headed down to Pilot Knob, the Dune’s southern reach and site of a single mountain protruding unnaturally through the dust. It also has some...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2019 | Accident Reports, Propeller Safety
It happens to even the most conscientious. Thanks to this pilot who had the balls to share his horrific experience so that others will hopefully avoid a similar fate. The pilot writes: I would like to begin with a little history of my background to help emphasize...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2019 | Accident Reports
Rapid wind change ensnares PPG Pilot. Thanks to the submitter for his willingness to share. The evening started with little wind and clear skies. A friend and I launched at 7:20pm from our favorite flying field just east of Colorado Springs. The first half hour of...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2019 | Accident Reports
by Phil Hyland, submitted by Jerry Starbuck. Thanks to USUA Club#1 It’s insidious. You look down for just a moment to take care of some problem and lose focus on your primary task: aviating. Jets crash due to it, too. Plus, focusing on distractions frequently...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 14, 2019 | 19: Risk & Safety, Accident Reports
See also Statistics: is our sport truly dangerous? | Is Equipment Safer? When an onlooker says “aren’t those things dangerous?” We should really think about our response. For a statistical look, go here. Are they? Although the article below is about...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 14, 2019 | Accident Reports
Being committed has limits A dozen little variables affect e ach launch decision. Some are settled when we plop our wing down and lay it out. Others get processed quickly and almost automatically during the precarious initial inflation until the wing is overhead and...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 14, 2019 | 19: Risk & Safety, Accident Reports
We’re given enormous freedom to risk our own necks—not others. Our rules are written to lust us risk ourselves when we fly—we must work to keep it that way. Continued self regulation depends on it. The incidents below shows what’s possible and what’s...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 13, 2019 | 19: Risk & Safety, Accident Reports
Thankfully this is as rare as it is fearsome In about March 2011, a pilot with 50 flights under his belt was foot launching. After a good inflation and run he stumbled, hitting the ground hard enough that his propeller flexed into the fuel tank, slicing through and...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 13, 2019 | 19: Risk & Safety, Accident Reports
It’s insidious. You look down for just a moment to take care of some problem and lose focus on your primary task: aviating. Jets crash because of this, too. Plus, focusing on distractions frequently breaks the all-important routine. Surprisingly simple little...
by Jeff Goin | Jul 21, 2017 | Accident Reports
Read is a paramotor pilot who doesn’t do much free flight but launched from the base of a well known free flight site, Point of the Mountain. He was man enough to post what happened on Facebook and agreed to let me share it. Here is his story. Action and...
by Jeff Goin | Jun 21, 2017 | Accident Reports
Power lines are a common cause of paramotor accidents. They frequently incur serious injuries but, strangely, are rarely fatal, possibly because the altitude is very low and the lines touch each other causing the power to shut off before the victim becomes a filament....
by Jeff Goin | Jul 12, 2016 | Accident Reports
Jupiter, FL, young pilot jumps from Powered Paraglider Video and news reports showed a pilot in a shallow right descending turn. He is seen coming out of a riser twist then hanging from his harness for a few seconds before letting go and falling from his paramotor,...
by Jeff Goin | May 13, 2012 | Accident Reports
Michael Mixer’s 2012 Recon Collapse during competition This one was a surprise to us. Conditions were good, the pilot competent, and his flying wasn’t overly aggressive. During the second run of the 2012 U.S. Pylon qualifier, Michael Mixer was making good...
by Jeff Goin | May 10, 2012 | 18: Advanced Maneuvers, 19: Risk & Safety, 22: Aerodynamics, 26: The Wing, Accident Reports
A Skilled Pilot Piles In, What Can We Learn For more on wings, see Chapter 26: Choosing A Wing | and Overview of Reflex Wings | Pylon Race Collapse Accident All wings are more dangerous with the speedbar fully engaged. Reflex wings, however, are only dangerous in that...
by Jeff Goin | Nov 30, 2010 | Accident Reports
It’s easier than you think | Updated 2010-Nov 30 to add EAA’s article. It’s easy to dismiss the risk of midair collisions because they’re so rare. But they’re also severe and, tragically, seem to happen to conscientious pilots with the...
by Jeff Goin | Jun 16, 2010 | Accident Reports
Thoughts on a Fatal Powered Paragliding Accident One of our own is gone. Even though I did not know Andrew personally, undoubtedly he would have been an instant friend–a lover of life and of flight. He died while launching his paramotor after being hit by a...
by Jeff Goin | Dec 11, 2009 | Accident Reports
Analysis of fatal paramotor crash involving turbulence and its improper handling. A fellow lover of flight went out one day to pursue his passion. He did not return—an incredible tragedy for the loved ones he leaves behind. We can only hope to learn from this tragedy...
by Jeff Goin | Jul 25, 2009 | Accident Reports, Propeller Safety
It’s never when you think about it | See also “A Better Paramotor” | See also Types of Prop Strike Injuries While standing there running my motor, I reflected on the number of hand injuries and how easily they happen. And how quickly. The thought...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2008 | Accident Reports
A good one for analysis because the pilot hass been willing to talk about it. First, we are happy that the pilot is able to discuss his brush with death and, secondly, that he is willing. In fact, he offered up the video, recorded by his brother-in-law, so the world...
by Jeff Goin | Feb 19, 2008 | 26: The Wing, Accident Reports
Thermally conditions combine with large wing Preliminary reports are frequently wrong. This is a preliminary report. We certainly hope the pilot recovers from this. This report was received 02/18/2008 and updated 2/19. An experienced paramotor instructor was seriously...
by Jeff Goin | May 30, 2007 | 18: Advanced Maneuvers, Accident Reports
Wires claim a paragliding pilot after a wind increase In May, 2007, a pilot died in a paragliding accident during a maneuvers clinic. She flew into high tension wires after increasing winds prevented a return to the planned LZ. This tragedy falls heaviest on the...
by Jeff Goin | Feb 19, 2007 | Accident Reports
Freeflight Instructor Gabe Jeb seriously hurt at free-flight site Sunday afternoon, Feb 18, well known Torrey Pines instructor Gabe Jeb was injured while soaring at a popular hill near San Diego. He had brought a group of students to Otay Mesa in southern California....
