Return to the incident list: Incident List Collision with Terrain/Obstruction PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 50 Weight: 160 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: Unknown Size: Paramotor Frame: Paralite Sky Cruiser with

Incident Details

January 1, 2006 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

The pilot, along with a group of other pilots were cruising around for a short cross country. Conditions were smooth and the pilot found a culvert to fly along at low altitude. So he descended to just a few feet above and was cruising along with corn on the right and a country road on the left. Ahead, and clearly visible, was a small, inconsequential bridge with no sides, leading to a house.

The house was set back well over a hundred feet with nothing but corn between the culvert where the pilot was flying and the house. The pilot climbed up to 10 feet or so to cross the bridge and then “I was flying along and all the sudden my wing was coming around into my lap”. He had struck electric wires about midway up his lines and fell onto some rocks beside the bridge, in the culvert. He complained of back pain, and being concerned with further injury, opted for an airlift to the hospital.

The lines were nearly invisible in that setting and their supporting poles widely spaced. They too were very difficult to see. While low flying appeals to many, it carries significant risk.

Flight Window: Wind Speed: Type: Phase of Flight: Type of Injury: Collateral Damage: Analysis of the incident (additional input by the incident investigation team): Photos (if available):

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