PPG down off South Stradbroke Island

[Spin]

I see on the news that a powered paraglider decked it off south Straddie this afternoon - according to witnesses he came in from about 100', appeared as if it was spiralling around a partially collapsed wing. Landed in the surf zone, breaking a limb or two, fortunately some of the bystanders ran into the surf and kept his head above water.

 

Wonder what happened, conditions appeared calm - in fact one of the nicest days we have had this year.

 

 

[Guest extralite]

From the forum reports it was a hard landing on the sand, not the surf, and sensationalized by the press as the other pilots around followed the HGFA policy of not talking to the press about incidents. Pilot has a broken leg and recovering in hospital in good spirits. Hard to know really the facts at this stage. A very experienced powered paraglider pilot out on coast run with a number of other pilots.

 

 

[Spin]

From the forum reports it was a hard landing on the sand, not the surf, and sensationalized by the press as the other pilots around followed the HGFA policy of not talking to the press about incidents.

Not really important in the greater scheme of things is it? Although I do wonder why fishermen who were on beach at the time and the paramedics both mentioned the landing as being in the shallow water. Anyhow which forum extralite, HGFA? I'm more interested in what went wrong, equipment failure, pilot error, just plain bad luck?

 

 

[Guest extralite]

Hi...the paradiseflyers forum which is for goldy ppg pilots. We are all interested (those of us who fly ppg that is) but the pilot will no doubt give his own version of events which should be the most accurate. Eyewitness accounts can be unreliable. For example, "spiralling" is an acro maneouvre (obviously its not the equipment for impressive acro) and so may or may not indicate a collapsed wingtip. The pilot is a very experienced, a record holder in fact.

 

I was beach flying too that day, conditons were perfect. Great fun sport by the way, portability being the main advantage, it is not a great way to get anywhere ina hurry though.

 

 

[Spin]

Cheers thanks for that - incidentally I am familiar with the equipment, including the powered variety, having been involved in some very early test flying. I also have more than a passing familiarity with the reliability or otherwise of witnesses, thanks to my day job.