Return to the incident list: Incident List Tree collision on take-off PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 35 Weight: 200 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: Powerplay Sting 140 DHV 1 Size: Paramotor Frame: Kompress Light (Black Devil motor) with

Incident Details

June 9, 2006 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

Pilot started forward inflation run into the wind with a clear take-off path. As the light wind shifted, pilot turned the wing slightly to ensure take-off was directly into the wind, not properly noticing that the take-off path was no longer clear. At full throttle, and just leaving the ground, pilot noticed a low line of pine trees immediately to his front, but wrongly thought he could climb fast and high enough to avoid them. Instead, pilot went into the pine trees at full throttle, destroying his propeller, bending the cage, shredding the protective net and causing several small tears in his wing. Pilot killed the engine and glided to a hard landing from about ten feet up, but sustained no significant injuries. Major lessons learned for a new pilot: Do not be afraid to abort take-off sequence at any point in order to set up and start again; and don’t get so focused on wing inflation and overhead stability that you lose sight of your launch path.

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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