Follow up to the PG incident on 8/21/24. Information was provided by a witness.

The pilot in question is a P3 rated pilot who has flown HG since the early 1970’s and mentioned visiting Kagel previously. It was reported that this pilot demonstrated knowledge of the Sylmar/Kagel site and site rules and claimed to have joined our club for a 30 day membership. The pilot mentioned he was interested in flying only if the conditions were gentle enough for him and would be driving up after 4 pm.

Per the witness, on launch the pilot appeared very patient as the conditions were still gusting to 18mph or so at time of arrival.  The pilot sat patiently and observed others while he assessed the flying conditions.

Around approx. 5:30p – 6p, the pilot inflated his glider and made an uneventful launch, immediately heading to the first bowl.  He was seen ridge soaring across and in front of launch to the stretch of ridge at Kendal’s Launch making several more passes.

When the witness looked over to where the pilot was flying, the pilot had disappeared behind the launch slope with his canopy descending to the ground while displayed vertically and not horizontally.  The witness was unsure whether he had purposely landed on top and was collapsing his wing, or whether he had crashed. The witness decided to fly over to where the pilot was. By the time the witness flew over, the pilot’s driver had begun to drive over to see if he was ok. Both the witness and the pilot’s driver arrived to the scene about the same time. As the witness arrived approx. 75 ft above the pilot, his driver was at now at his side, the pilot was sitting up and moving. Upon asking if he was ok, the pilot acknowledged YES. Upon asking if the pilot required assistance, he replied NO Approx. an hour or two later, the pilot was seen in the parking lot of the LZ. He appeared bruised and sore but expressed again that he was ok.

If you have any additional information pertaining to this incident, please contact me. No need for names or personal information. This is so we can all learn from this incident to be better and safer pilots.

Cheers,

Tim/Assistant Safety Director