Return to the incident list: Incident List Low pass on beach leads to crash PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 61 Weight: 228 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: do not know Size: Paramotor Frame: Flat top ninja with

Incident Details

November 14, 2012 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

*** Editors note: Due to incident database rules we have removed the name of the instructor involved. This instructor is NOT a USPPA certified instructor. We encourage you to seek qualified instruction from USPPA Certified instructors. The other details remain to illustrate how important it is to work with a reputable instructor. ***

Narrative: I was as instructed to buzz the beach at 30 feet so my instructor could see how much gas was left in the tank. As I approached the beach I realized my descent was too steep. When I full throttled the engine it caused my body swing upwards violently. I would have been fine had I just kept the throttle on, however, my instinct was wrong and I released the throttle causing me to swing backwards relative to the wing. I then tried to accelerate again, but it was too late and I hit the beach at full throttle.

It was my fault.

I walked away, but after two weeks my lower back still hurts. In hindsight I believe that I was instructed to do something that was above my experience level. Also, we had been given only a five minute explanation of how to land, so I am not sure (even had I been trying to land) that the five minute explanation would have been sufficient for a safe landing.

Incidentally, after spending time with this instructor I have come to see him as a dangerous psychopathic liar. He lied about the “accommodations.” He lied saying the Mexico trip was explained on his web-site, (A simple search of the web-site did not find the word “Mexico” on any page). He lied about why one of his instructors quit one day into the training. He lied about the number of instructors he had.

In addition to these (and other) lies he was running a business out of a rented beach house in San Diego without a license. The students were told NOT to use the word “instructor” publicly to mask the fact that he was operating illegally. I could list other lies and describe his wild unsafe hot-dog driving stunts in Mexico, but the list would be too long.

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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