SAFA Skysailor Magazine

40 SKY SAILOR July | August 2023 AIRS Safety Wrap-up – June / July 2023 by Iain Clarke – SAFA Safety Management Officer Greetings fellow pilots. One of the more challenging aspects of my role is when a fatal or serious accident occurs. In the first instance, we in Operations assist the authorities on-site and in their ongoing enquiries. Beyond this, we assist affected members as best we can, and then communicating to all members what has occurred. That last point takes time. Unlike the ATSB, we do not have the ability to investigate accidents and make findings. Since the ATSB do not investigate accidents in the recreational aviation sphere, it is left to the local police to conduct their investigations and provide infor- mation to the coroner. We assist the police in their work, then wait for the Coroner Courts to complete theirs and release the findings, before we can report to you. We have had a number of reports arrive from the Coroners Courts in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and WA, therefore this issue we lead off with four fatal accidents. #1231 – PG fatality, NSW A group of students and their instructor arrived for flight training at Grants Headland – SE Bonnys (NSW). What appeared to be a paraglider wing was observed in the water. Upon investigation, the body of a pilot with their gear was discovered in the water. There were no witnesses to the events that led to the pilot being deceased, however, the weather conditions prior to the students arriving at the site were reported to be un- suitable for flight operations. The wing involved was a mini-wing, and an examination of the trimmer settings as found indicated that these may have increased the risk of stalling. All pilots are advised to fly with a buddy, and to only fly in conditions suitable for flight operations. #1313 – PG fatality, Qld/S PIC was undertaking training to attain their mini-wing endorsement. At the time the pilot was rated PG3, but on the pathway to also attaining PG4. In the days prior to the accident, the pilot undertook familiarisation training and flights from a low training hill. On the day of the accident, weather conditions were unfavourable for flight from Beechmont and Hinchcliffe’s Flat-top was deemed appropriate. PIC drove to Canungra in the early morning and prepared for flight with their instructor. At about 7.30 am, PIC inflated the wing, stabilised under it, and then launched, flying out from the hill and settling into the harness without incident. At this point, about 20 seconds into the flight, PIC induced a roll. Over the radio PIC was instructed to not over-con- trol the wing. The roll increased despite the instructor’s directions to let both brakes up. The wing then entered a series of wingovers of increasing severity before the wing disap- peared from view. PIC impacted terrain approximately 300m below the launch. They were unresponsive when located and CPR was given, but they