SAFA Skysailor Magazine

39 May | June 2024 SKY SAILOR PIC pulled the outer A-lines successfully on the left side of the glider, but on the right side, it appears they pulled all the A-lines. This caused an asymmetric collapse of the right-hand side wing, causing the glider to spin 90º to the right. Due to the pilot’s low altitude, glider and pilot landed in a tree. The glider caught in the canopy of the tree and suspend- ed the pilot two metres off the ground. Other pilots assisted in the pilot’s safe removal from the tree, and in extracting his wing. The pilot was unhurt, and the wing suffered a small tear, which was later repaired. The pilot was debriefed by the supervising pilot, and later by the SSO and President of the SCSA club. The incident was reported to the council. This could have been a serious accident; the tree canopy saved the pilot from serious injury. Because of the low altitude, no recovery, even going hands up, would have allowed the glider to recover in time.