Paragliding Tales: The Bright Fright!

Bright fright… This unrelated video clip shows Dean Hyatt controlling a collapse above Bright, Australia

Aussie competitor and instructor Peter Bowyer reveals his two most frightening moments in paragliding- and the lessons they taught him…First published in Cross Country in 2001

Both incidents covered in this story happened at the Bright Nationals, Australia in 2000. I wanted to write and share both incidents in hope that others could learn from my experiences.

I started flying in 1993 I’m an Instructor and have 2500+ hrs in a paraglider. I have flown full-time most of my flying life. I’ve flown many different wings over the years including some comp prototypes that have taught me a lot about canopy control. I have experienced a few scares over the years but nothing like the two incidences I am about to share with you.

Like most pilots who fly comp wings in competitions I have on occasion thought of that day I may have to throw my reserve. I have pondered on the events, which would take place forcing me to rely on my reserve.

The 2 main events I had imagined would force me to actually throw my reserve were if I happened to be low and either; cravatted or got spun up in the risers the result of a bad collapse. I have always tried hard to correct any problem rather than the option of throwing the reserve (which don’t always open) The chance of a hard landing, landing in power lines, on fences or being spiked on a Gum tree have encouraged me to take control of the glider over the more risky option of throwing the reserve. So the motivation is always there to fix your situation and not just toss the silk!

I’ve always been quite proud when asked, “Hey, Pete ever tossed ya reserve?” “Na!” But I thought about it once in France a few years ago after a large collapse and spin not far above the trees.

I knew that realistically one day there might be a time that I may have to use my reserve. I mentally prepared for the day that I might come to rely on my reserve. I very occasionally practiced reaching for the reserve handle with my eyes closed. (A tip given to me from a test pilot years ago.) I am now very grateful of this tip.

I have always been very confident in my ability to handle most situations but was also a realist and very aware of the fact that given ugly enough air, no amount of pilot skill is good enough to regain control of a wrapped up glider. Anybody can loose it, especially on a modern day comp wing such as the wing I was flying at the time. Even though I absolutely loved flying it and was addicted to its performance.

Fright 1

I have been teaching for four years now and the one thing I drill into my students is the 6 point check.
1&2.) both leg straps .3) chest strap
4&5.) both carabiners 6.) helmet strap.

My first incident involves failing to complete my pre-flight check due to distractions on launch and a last minute change in harness-breaking from routine.

Getting ready for a day of comp flying. I was on launch at “The Pines” just out of Bright. I lay out my glider checking lines & risers, attached the glider to harness followed by the speed-system to the glider. I then gathered up lines and glider, carefully looping the lines. I walked back to the shade and check all my equipment again. I then participated in the task committee meeting and setting the task for the day.

All geared up, I was ready and rearing to go. Minutes later, It was time to go, I gather my gear and slip my harness on over my shoulders and attach my ballast on the front with my instruments. I had totally forgotten my leg straps (obviously) I did my chest strap up and set out to launch. I prepared myself laying out the glider.

I do my pre-flight with my first intention to check the leg straps, as always! ,It feels tight and secure because of the ballast weight down on front, the leg-straps have always been very hard to see, if not impossible as they are very narrow. Hidden by my ballast bag and everything on the harness in black. I could not see that the leg-straps were hanging down, I continue on and check my chest strap, carabiners, helmet and reserve pin.

A friend was making a video of the comp and stands in front of me to one side. Momentarily I allow myself to be distracted by the hype on launch, I quickly check my harness again, then turning my focus on the wind direction, thermal cycles and clouds. They were perfect and it was time to go, I popped the glider up quickly turned, took a couple of steps and the instant the ground fell away I nearly did as well. Sliding through my harness and being stopped as the webbing caught my arms and the chest strap caught under my throat.

Now I was just hanging from my harness by my armpits and throat with only a comp wing to rely on.

OH F#*%! , Stay cool and think it out. I hit a thermal and had a small tuck, Oh great! No problem as its only small. I quickly started to think about my very limited options.

1. Fly straight into the trees near launch, nah!
2. Try pulling myself up into the harness.

All this was going through my mind as I worry about the very real danger of a collapse in my wing with little brake travel and the very real danger of falling through my harness. I decide to try and get into the harness. I let go of both brakes and grab the risers and pull with all my strength and then some. No Good, but I could breath a little better, I tried again but my strength faded quickly.

The seat board was by this time in the middle of my back, I realized I had to stay put and just try to hang on. I quickly grabbed the brakes again after a worrying search for them. I could only just reach them. I held the brakes but I began to slide further down again as I had to lift my arms to keep hold of the brakes while being very aware of trying to maintain a reasonable airspeed. I didn’t want to stall the glider.

The chest strap was starting to choke me again as I slid down a little more. I thought of throwing my reserve but quickly realized that I wouldn’t be attached if I threw it. All I could to do was stay calm, hang on and land. I realized that if I continued flying straight I had a much better chance of hitting another thermal and going up, that’s the last thing I needed. I could feel I was in sinking air and tried to turn to stay in it. It was all I could think of.

My strength continued to fade and my choking getting worse. It really hit me that I might fall through. By this time it feels like forever and I didn’t know how high I was or how long I had to go. I force my chin down with all my strength to see the ground about 50 metres below. All I wanted was to touch it again –softly! I grabbed another look to try and pick the paddock and wind, I notice my groundspeed was not too bad; the ground was coming up a little faster now.

I put my legs together and rolled over as I hit the ground with a badly timed flare, I was OK I had survived.

A little shaken but OK. Phew that was a close one. I was feeling incredibly angry with myself for making such a mistake. I couldn’t believe what I had just done for the first and last time! I realized I had made a potentially fatal mistake and had to put it behind me, get back up the hill and fly to the goal set for the day. When I landed at goal I was mentally and physically totally drained and my emotions caught up, I was incredibly angry with myself again.

A couple of interesting points. Prior to this comp I had been flying in a new Sup-Air Cocoon harness. I loved most things about the harness except the degree of weight-shift available and pack up room for all my flying stuff. This harness had anti-forget leg loops and you didn’t even have to think about doing up your leg straps, as you simply could not forget. There is a T section joined on one legstrap that’s joins the two female buckles on the chest strap. Its simple and it works! And I now strongly recommend them to all pilots.

One of the most important things I’ve learnt in competition flying over the years is to be 100% happy with all of your equipment. I loved my Woody Valley race harness but it had it’s short comings in regards to the reserve under your legs and deployment handle too far forward. Also the leg strap arrangement was very thin and you could not adjust them externally. But the weight-shift was the best ever and on a glide it was fantastic, layback whack the speed on and cruise.

I had flown many hundreds of hours in this harness and it felt like home. So when the comps came around again I couldn’t resist. Going back to this harness after the Sup-Air I had to start reminding myself again to check the leg straps, twice. Once when I first clip in and again as part of the pre-flight. On the day of the incident above I very obviously didn’t! I made a mistake and it very nearly could have cost me the ultimate price, my life.

Fright 2

It was the last day of the National Championships and a booming day it was. Good strong climbs to a nice high base, the task was going well, It was a great days flying and I was having a ball, I had just nabbed the last turn point for the day and knew that if I based out at “Clear spot” on my next climb it would be a tailwind race all the way to goal at Harrietville.

I committed and went in deep at Clear spot after seeing clear signs of very strong lift and had expected turbulent air but a good booming climb out, I hit a very strong but small thermal burst and fell out, I looked further upwind away from the hill, the air was incredibly rough, suddenly I hit some very strong lift the glider fell behind me in a full stall ridiculously fast. I was “too” low to keep the stall for a nice recovery and had to let the brakes up and try to catch the surge, I knew it was going to be ugly.

I couldn’t stop the surge; the glider was now where I didn’t want it, in front and below me, yikes! Big collapse, the glider unloaded completely as I fell toward the sail with the canopy brushing my face, the glider spun quickly wrapping me in the risers many times, “RESERVE” I found the handle immediately, with the ground coming up incredibly alarmingly fast, I tossed the reserve very hard, but to my amazement it went vertical straight into my lines, I immediately reached up and pulled the parachute bridle hard, then it exploded opened with a crack.

Followed by immediate pain, the reserve bridle had caught under my right arm and taken it behind my head, FAST! Tearing my muscles and ligament. I rode the reserve only a few short seconds and was horrified at my incredible sink-rate, The earth raced at my face then stopped before impact, I then sprung back up, I had collected a gum tree with my reserve and a pine tree with my main and was stopped before the ground like a bungy then taken back up the tree.

There I counted my limbs, kissed and hugged the tree and hung in pain, all the time feeling very, very, lucky! I saw my good mates Bega Billy and Ian Ladyman hanging around to see if I was ok. I tried to call on the radio but one arm was tied and giving a lot of pain. I grabbed my hook knife and slashed my shoulder straps to relieve the pain of my trapped arm. My leg straps are very narrow webbing and were cutting into my groin badly.

I knew it would be risky to cut myself free of the harness but the pain being experienced helped to expedite the decision making. I grabbed the tree and wrapped my legs around the trunk and held on with my good arm and tried to release my quick release leg straps, No way! Not loaded with all my weight. I sliced one with my knife and fell down a little. I slashed the last strap and the harness zoomed away.

I shimmied down the tree being splintered all the way and collapsed on the ground with exhaustion, it had turned into a rather stressful day!

Many thanks to my good friends who helped out and even sacrificed some valuable competition points, Bega Bill for relaying on radio and Wayne Potocky and Mark Taylor for their speedy and much appreciated rescue. And of course a special thanks to the Bright SES and local hospital.

* ALWAYS 6 POINT CHECK, TOUCH TO CHECK IT!
* NEVER LET SOMEONE DISTRACT YOU ON LAUNCH, POLITELY TELL THEM TO GO AWAY.
* DON’T WAIT TOO LONG IF YOU HAVE TO THROW YOUR RESERVE, SECONDS COUNT!
* REPACK YOUR RESERVE OFTEN AND ALWAYS ATTEND REPACK NIGHTS THAT OTHERS HAVE TAKEN THE TIME AND EFFORT TO ORGANISE FOR YOU!

* SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SES.

Yes, I am an Instructor and a member of the Paragliding Safety Committee. These incidents can happen to anyone. Don’t kid yourself if you think it can’t happen to you.

Wake up before its too late as complacency can and does kill! FACT: more than 10 European Paraglider pilots died in 1998 from open leg straps. I have already spoken to 3 Australian pilots that have flown with both leg straps open, I’m sure there have been others. Be Careful!

Updated January 2011

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