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Two Dead at Torrey - Paragliding Collision (March 9, 2019)

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 7:49 pm
by Bob Kuczewski
Two PG pilots died at Torrey today in a mid-air collision:

http://ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3434

Always maintain a safe distance between terrain and other pilots.

Re: Two Dead at Torrey - Paragliding Collision (March 9, 2019)

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:43 am
by Steve90266
Very sad news. Both pilots were "experienced". P4 and P3. Lesson emphasized. Keep your head on a swivel, ESPECIALLY when ridge soaring with multiple pilots, but always, always, always assume somebody is looking in the wrong direction and coming to take you out.

Re: Two Dead at Torrey - Paragliding Collision (March 9, 2019)

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 11:40 am
by Bob Kuczewski
Steve90266 wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:43 am Both pilots were "experienced". P4 and P3.
Where did you find that they were P4 and P3?

Re: Two Dead at Torrey - Paragliding Collision (March 9, 2019)

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 11:25 pm
by Bob Kuczewski
The names have been released ...
LA JOLLA, Calif. (KGTV) — The San Diego County Medical Examiner released the identities of the two men who died in yesterday's paragliding accident.

Glenn Johnny Peter Bengtsson, Carlsbad (43)
Raul Gonzalez Valerio, Laguna Hills (61)
... but not their USHPA ratings or training status.

Can anyone confirm the "P4 and P3" ratings?

Re: Two Dead at Torrey - Paragliding Collision (March 9, 2019)

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:52 am
by JD
Bob Kuczewski wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2019 11:25 pm The names have been released ...
LA JOLLA, Calif. (KGTV) — The San Diego County Medical Examiner released the identities of the two men who died in yesterday's paragliding accident.

Glenn Johnny Peter Bengtsson, Carlsbad (43)
Raul Gonzalez Valerio, Laguna Hills (61)
... but not their USHPA ratings or training status.

Can anyone confirm the "P4 and P3" ratings?

They were P3 and P0. I have the information from pilots who knew them.

Eyewitness account: http://www.crestlinesoaring.org/node/2694

Bob,
I regret that you were unable to effect positive change at Torrey. I know that you put everything you had into making it a safer flying site.
Sadly, our national organization has its priorities up some dark hole in all its opacity.
Keep doing your best!
JD

Re: Two Dead at Torrey - Paragliding Collision (March 9, 2019)

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:24 am
by Bob Kuczewski
Steve90266 wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:43 am Both pilots were "experienced". P4 and P3.
JD wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:52 amThey were P3 and P0. I have the information from pilots who knew them.
From PG Forum - P3 and P1??
pgf_report.png
pgf_report.png (163.98 KiB) Viewed 7970 times

I called USHPA Monday morning to ask for the pilot ratings directly. I spoke to Erika. USHPA had already scrubbed their database of that information, but Erika didn't know it. Erika said it was "weird" that the pilot showed up as a member, but there was no other information. Maybe she hasn't been briefed yet on the USHPA "cover up" policy.

Two dead pilots and so far there have been 3 different guesses as to their ratings.
It's shameful what these sports have tolerated from USHPA.

Read more at: https://ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3434

Re: Two Dead at Torrey - Paragliding Collision (March 9, 2019)

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 10:15 am
by Bob Kuczewski
Alan? ... Ken? ... Lawrence? ... Erika?

What were the ratings of the two dead paraglider pilots at Torrey Pines?

Re: Two Dead at Torrey - Paragliding Collision (March 9, 2019)

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 11:40 pm
by Bob Kuczewski
Self regulation by USHPA?
Accident reporting by USHPA?
Accident investigations by USHPA?

USHPA is already treating the dead pilot's ratings like state secrets. What does that say about USHPA's ability to provide any "self regulation"?

Alan? ... Ken? ... Lawrence? ... Erika?

What were the ratings of the two dead paraglider pilots at Torrey Pines?