Return to the incident list: Incident List Surf landing: Don’t be too proud to abort! PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 33 Weight: 210 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: Apco Fiesta Size: Paramotor Frame: 1st gen Fly Products gold 130 with

Incident Details

March 14, 2006 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

After a day of great flying I felt my PPG Belt was loose and needed tightening. When I landed a pilot friend helped tighten the belt. I did a perfect reverse, wind was East at 8 mph. When I turned around to run and give throttle there was a tremendous amount of torque on my back and I wasn’t feeling the usual thrust. I continued to run toward the beach and noticed I wasn’t yet going up. I could,’t figure out why: the weather conditions were ideal, and he just “fixed” the belt. By the time I stopped I was ankle deep in surf and the wing fell forward into the waves. I was then pulled face forward into several inches of water and the motor was still running. I was being pulled out to the sea! Attached to the wing. I managed to quickly get up and shut off the motor and unhook the carabiners…that was the first close call. My buddy was in the air and there was no one on the beach. I unhooked my harness and motor, put it up on the beach and ran out to the sea in about four feet of water to retrieve my wing. An undertow wrapped the lines around my feet and pulled me under. I then found myself under the wing under the water. I pushed up the wing to form an air pocket to get a breath. The lines were rappidly wrapping around my neck. I was then screaming in my mind, “I will not die like this, god help!” I then quickly as possible took the lines off my neck and feet and managed to swim out of it. I was never tis exhausted in my life. I had to crawl up the beach to lie down and rest. I must have swallowed a gallon of seawater. My flying partner finally realized what had happened and landed to help. A bystander then helped pull in the wing making a small tear. This was a near death experience. I always tell other and or new pilots, “Never be afraid to abort if you’re not completely satisfied with your take off setup. Especially if people are watching, don’t feel you have to show off.” Now when I take off on the beach towards the water I always make a mental note of an abort spot, such as a stick on the ground, or how many steps that will avoid a wing falling in the water. I have told this story several times to experienced pilots, who have not heeded my advice and had several “dunkings” and further equiptment damage and close calls. Although this happened several years ago, the lesson will last forever. Hopefully this lesson will save a life.

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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