Extraordinary Carnage for One Day
Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2015 5:42 pm
Since no one posted their own...
Monday, November 30th was very gusty at launch, 10 to 25mph. Thirteen pilots showed up. Only nine made it off and eight made it safely to the LZ.
1. From the main launch, H4 pilot cleared the wire crew. While taking a step, the right wing raised pulling the glider and the pilot to the left and finally turning the glider 180 degrees, tail up, into the wind. The glider flipped and the pilot fell onto the sail breaking a downtube. No injury to pilot. Lack of control at launch was possibly due to the pilot's body position in the control frame and turbulent conditions.
2. H4 pilot with three-man wire crew positioned to launch from the saddle. Launch was reportedly perfect. Witnesses then noticed the pilot hanging by hands from the control frame until the pilot released grip and fell around 10 feet to the ground. Glider shot straight up 80-100 feet, turned toward the ground, flipped, dove and recovered in time to impact on the control frame and keel, cartwheeled once and came to rest right-side up before damaging any other gliders. Pilot sustained minor injuries (scratches, bruises), possible sprain to hand. Two downtubes, several bent or broken battens and a keel for the glider. One wire crew member remarked that pilot seemed to be in a rush to launch.
3. H4 pilot launched from saddle. Aloft but with left wing tip dragging, glider turned 180 degrees back into the mountain. Pilot pushed out hard and impacted softly. No injury, no reported damage. Another pilot familiar with the saddle launch remarked that the incident pilot launched in a lull.
4. H4 pilot landing in good conditions (light, straight in breeze in LZ) turns to final. Other pilots present immediately remarked, "he's high." Pilot remained prone and increased speed, diving down to the grass ramp. Glider continued at speed toward overshoot ramp where the pilot dragged feet and then took several steps to the end of the ramp before pulling in hard. Pilot impacted, at speed, on the up-slope to the SIBL parking area at the bottom of the road to the wash. Pilot sustained a deep gash to lower leg, cut on hand and probably a very stiff neck from slamming head-first into the soft dirt. Broken downtube and possible damage to a carbon wing-extender that was catapulted into the wash by the force of the impact. Pilot was unfamiliar with all aspects of the LZ (first flight here) and reportedly this was his second flight after 1 year off.
Oh, yeah, the count isn't quite right.
5. H4 pilot with unknown time off (living out of state) chose to fold-up and drive down due to conditions.
Monday, November 30th was very gusty at launch, 10 to 25mph. Thirteen pilots showed up. Only nine made it off and eight made it safely to the LZ.
1. From the main launch, H4 pilot cleared the wire crew. While taking a step, the right wing raised pulling the glider and the pilot to the left and finally turning the glider 180 degrees, tail up, into the wind. The glider flipped and the pilot fell onto the sail breaking a downtube. No injury to pilot. Lack of control at launch was possibly due to the pilot's body position in the control frame and turbulent conditions.
2. H4 pilot with three-man wire crew positioned to launch from the saddle. Launch was reportedly perfect. Witnesses then noticed the pilot hanging by hands from the control frame until the pilot released grip and fell around 10 feet to the ground. Glider shot straight up 80-100 feet, turned toward the ground, flipped, dove and recovered in time to impact on the control frame and keel, cartwheeled once and came to rest right-side up before damaging any other gliders. Pilot sustained minor injuries (scratches, bruises), possible sprain to hand. Two downtubes, several bent or broken battens and a keel for the glider. One wire crew member remarked that pilot seemed to be in a rush to launch.
3. H4 pilot launched from saddle. Aloft but with left wing tip dragging, glider turned 180 degrees back into the mountain. Pilot pushed out hard and impacted softly. No injury, no reported damage. Another pilot familiar with the saddle launch remarked that the incident pilot launched in a lull.
4. H4 pilot landing in good conditions (light, straight in breeze in LZ) turns to final. Other pilots present immediately remarked, "he's high." Pilot remained prone and increased speed, diving down to the grass ramp. Glider continued at speed toward overshoot ramp where the pilot dragged feet and then took several steps to the end of the ramp before pulling in hard. Pilot impacted, at speed, on the up-slope to the SIBL parking area at the bottom of the road to the wash. Pilot sustained a deep gash to lower leg, cut on hand and probably a very stiff neck from slamming head-first into the soft dirt. Broken downtube and possible damage to a carbon wing-extender that was catapulted into the wash by the force of the impact. Pilot was unfamiliar with all aspects of the LZ (first flight here) and reportedly this was his second flight after 1 year off.
Oh, yeah, the count isn't quite right.
5. H4 pilot with unknown time off (living out of state) chose to fold-up and drive down due to conditions.