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Pilot Details

Age: 21 Weight: 140 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: Silex Size: Paramotor Frame: Unknown with

Incident Details

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

A warm, humid morning presented a difficult no-wind launch condition and the pilot tried at least three times to launch. He was finally successful and climbed out to altitude for one of his first flights on a new wing. After reaching altitude, he went into what appears to be an intentional spiral…a maneuver that he had done many times before on his more docile wing.

This time it quickly became very steep and “locked in”…a condition where the wing remains in the spiral even though the brake input initiating it is removed. This steep spiral continued until impact. When the first witness reached him (about 10 minutes), the pilot was not conscious and never came around. CPR was applied by a witnessing instructor.

Contributing factors were:

1. This wing is known to be highly maneuverable and very responsive to brake input. It is precisely this handling that makes it popular.

2. The pilot liked flying in ways that induced adrenalin.

3. Once a spiral goes beyond a certain steepness, the “G” forces can exceed the pilot’s ability to move his hands normally. They can also allow the pilot to black out, making recovery impossible.

4. He likely suffered from fatigue owing to the multiple aborted launch conditions and hot, humid air.

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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