SAFA Skysailor Magazine

63 WINTER 2025 | June-July-August SKY SAILOR awareness regarding their flight path and proximity to terrain. Shortly after launch, the pilot impacted terrain to the left of launch and sustained significant injuries (broken ribs, punctured lung). PIC had driven up from Melbourne that morning and experienced fatigue, stating they should not have launched. Do not launch if fatigued! Make sure you are well rested and completely ‘present’ before attempting to fly. Pilots are reminded that once they have launched and are airborne, their first priority should be to establish and maintain a safe flight path away from terrain. If there are any issues arising from the launch (such as a line tangle or cravat), these should only be attended to once clear of and flying away from terrain. #2028 PG reserve deployment at Great Missenden (Landscape), Vic PIC was flying their paraglider (mid EN-B) at Landscape (Vic), an inland site 70km north of Melbourne. The day was thermally active, and the pilot was antic- ipating cloudbase at 2200m AMSL in line with forecasts. Their plan was to fly around launch and landing zones and not go XC. After 30 minutes flight in company, they were at 1250m AMSL and behind launch. PIC left the thermal to head back to the launch environs and found themselves in a stronger thermal with climbs up to 4.5m/sec. At 1500m AMSL, they left the thermal, but the climb continued until they were at cloudbase at 1850m AMSL and in very rough air. They applied speedbar to escape the cloud without success, then attempted Big Ears. Due to buffeting, they lost grip on one side which re-inflated. They then suffered a symmetric collapse which had partially recovered when a second collapse occurred. The wingtips collapsed and PIC was confronted with ”... a bag of washing in front of me”. Next a spin occurred, causing the risers to twist 4-5 times, entering a flat spin that accelerated, the g-forces were building, and the pilot made the decision to throw their reserve, which came out well, but fell into the wing. PIC pulled the reserve bridle, eventually working it free, and allowing it to inflate. They were partially successful in killing the wing. The ground arrived quickly from their perspective, so they prepared for a PLF, but the reserve came down across a tree canopy and they landed gently on their feet. No damage or injury.