Return to the incident list: Incident List Bad decision on January 1st PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 38 Weight: 184 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: MacPara Eden 3 Size: Paramotor Frame: FB Simo 122 with

Incident Details

January 8, 2009 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

I went to Boca Grande Island (such a beautiful place) to picnic with my family. It was an amazing day on the beach and the desire to fly was bigger than me (first error), even with wind coming from inland (the preannounce of problems) I took the decision to take-off after spending time thinking about it (the MAIN error). After 2 bad inflations (some small rotors), I took off. At this same moment I felt the big pressure coming from inland and I had to turn south (right) in order to minimize the turbulence and avoid the power lines. Something wrong happened because I started to hear a “different noise” coming from the motor (I couldn’t figured out yet what happened). I gained a little altitude heading to the sea but it was still turbulent and the inland winds pushed me towards the ocean, I pointed back to the sand (it was very hard to control the wing) but I had to pass the people near the water. After I passed the last person (I was about 10-15ft high) I was just dragged down (no time to pull the breaks, switched off the engine or even finish my landing position in the chair) like a rock. A huge pain in my left foot (plus swelling) indicates a problem. People on the beach (plus my family) helped me to take care of my equipment (a broken propeller, some cage strings and, who else knows what more). Paramedics took me to the nearest hospital. Around 2 hours later, the information that I was very lucky (no break bones): sprained ankle, few weeks not able to fly. Anyways, lots of learnings from the mistakes and an advice to other pilots: NEVER FLY WITH WIND COMING FROM INLAND!!!

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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