SAFA Skysailor Magazine

44 SKY SAILOR January | February 2022 overcooked the wing which resulted in a collapse and a cravat. The pilot attempted to recover the wing, but this resulted in the PIC flying towards the cliff, unable to avoid impact. A stable fracture of the T12 vertebra resulted. When practising wingovers, ensure you have plenty of space, both vertical and horizontal, in which to recover. These should not be attempted in close proximity to the terrain or other obstacles. SIV courses are highly recommended as the best environment to learn and practise these manoeuvres. We’ll head to the other side of Port Phillip Bay now… #1627 – Flinders PG accident, Vic On 3 January 2022, PIC was flying their PG at Flinders Golf Club. Whilst approaching the LZ, the pilot applied too much brake at about 20m agl. The wing began to stall, and PIC responded by raising their hands. This caused the wing to start to surge. PIC then applied too much brake to counteract this and resulted in the wing collapsing fully at about 10m agl. PIC impacted the ground on their left side resulting in a shattered left humerus and fractured T11 vertebra. Pilots are reminded to avoid excessive brake inputs, especially when on landing approach. #1639 – PG rock landing below cliffs between Flinders Golf Course and Flinders Blowhole, Vic PIC decided to fly their PG to the blowhole at Flinders Golf Course in mild lift. On the return, AIRS Safety Wrap-up they lost lift and were forced to make an unplanned landing onto rocks without issue, approximately 800m east of the blowhole. Low hour pilots should seek appropriate counsel and guidance from local safety officers and senior pilots, before extending themselves on flights of this nature. Now off to Stanwell Park. #1465 – PG incident Stanwell Park, NSW PIC was testing a new paraglider wing on a flight at Stanwell Park, with the wind SE at 7-10kt. The pilot headed SW along the cliff face between Stanwell Park and Coalcliff until they reached the vicinity of Coalcliff station. They intended climb to 120m, then fly across the station and climb further along a spur west of the station until they reached the top of the escarpment west of Coalcliff – an approach to climbing the escarpment resulting from a discussion with a few experienced pilots at Bald Hill. After crossing over the train line, PIC became fearful of and fixated with the overhead powerlines, and now west of the train line, became fixated on avoiding these. As a result, they did not cross them again, lost focus on their initial plan of climbing the spur west of the station, instead flying downwind NE along the powerlines, over thick bush. They landed in a paddock between two banksia trees, on their feet without injuries, however, on landing the glider became entangled in the trees. No damage or injury.