Incident Reports | Formal Investigations | BHPA | Safety

Incident Reports (Informal)

Incident reports are available in summary form for the following wing types:

Incident reports for other wings are displayed below in summary form.

The BHPA incident reports database is fully searchable. To refine your search you can specify a particular wing type and select "or" or "and". For example, if you want to search for paraglider incidents at Hay Bluff, for best search results select paraglider from the drop down list and the "and" option.

If you want to search by incident date, please enter the day, month and year numerically as dd-mm-yyyy (eg. 03-12-2019).

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If known, total hours and total flights flown are displayed below together with hours and flights flown in the past six months, the latter being displayed in brackets.

There are 33 entries for other wings

Displaying page 2 out of 4

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Date

Pilot

Location

Wing Type

Summary

Injury

Incident Reports

Date
08.09.2023

Pilot
Male

Age:
57

Rating:
NPPL microlight. BHPA Club Pilot + hill, power rating, senior coach, microlight permit.

Flying Experience:
38 years

325 hours
(7 hours)

433 flights
(11 flights)

Location
Take off from Rossall Airfield,
Cockerham,
UK

Wind Strength:
0-5 km/h

Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent

Wing Type
Other

Wing:
BIERINX J AND DUGOURD M
POU DU CIEL - BIFLY

Launch Type:
Powered

Engine:
Rotax,
447

Summary
Pilot suffered engine out on approach and had to make an emergency landing in alternative field. 30cm grass caught on wheels causing the aircraft to flip upside down.

Injury
Pilot:
Minor Injuries,

Pelvis

Date
16.09.2022

Pilot
Unknown
Location
N/A,
N/A,
UK

Wing Type
Other

Summary
During repack, licensed packer noticed that the bridle had been removed from the parachute. The lines were connected directly to a maillon rapide. Problem had not been picked up on two previous repacks.

Injury
Unknown


Date
26.06.2021

Pilot
Male

Age:
64

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
48 years

650 hours
(20 hours)

1000 flights
(45 flights)

Location
Sutton Meadows,
Cambridgeshire,
UK

Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h

Conditions:
Moderate

Wing Type
Other

Wing:
Flylight
Foxtug

Launch Type:
Aero Tow

Summary
The Foxtug was aerotowing a Wills Wing Falcon F3 (tandem). After initial engine warm-up, a take-off was made on full power. The Foxtug's Rotax 582 engine suffered a power loss at around 200ft AGL which recovered and then dropped again. The tandem pilot released when signalled, and landed without further incident.

Injury
Pilot:
Unhurt

Passenger:
Unhurt

Date
08.06.2021

Pilot
Male

Age:
64

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
48 years

650 hours
(20 hours)

1000 flights
(45 flights)

Location
Sutton Meadows,
Cambridgeshire,
UK

Wing Type
Other

Wing:
Unknown
Hang Glider launch trolley

Summary
After the final, successful, aerotow launch of the day the launch trolley front left side wheel bracket was discovered to be bent and broken on one side. Subsequent inspection found cracks in three of the four flanges on top of the bottom end of the support struts to which the two front wheels attach.

Injury
Pilot:
Unhurt

Date
30.05.2020

Pilot
Male

Age:
30

Rating:
P

Flying Experience:
26 years

1000 hours
(30 hours)

1000 flights
(50 flights)

Location
Abingdon Airfield,
Abingdon,
UK

Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h

Conditions:
Calm,
Not Turbulent

Wing Type
Other

Wing:
Harley
Harley

Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow

Summary
Upon release of the tow line, pilot induced a full stall and spin. During spin the break line snapped. Canopy self recovered. Pilot landed safely into wind using the rear risers.

Injury
Pilot:
Unhurt

Date
30.05.2020

Pilot
Male

Age:
47

Rating:
CP

Flying Experience:
8 years

130 flights
(6 flights)

Location
Abingdon Army Base,
Abingdon,
UK

Wind Strength:
10-15 km/h

Conditions:
Moderate,
Not Turbulent

Wing Type
Other

Wing:
Harley
Harley 288

Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow

Summary
The pilot attempted to fly back to launch and was not able to turn into wind to land. He attempted a crosswind landing on tarmac at speed and sustained injury.

Injury
Pilot:
Seriously Injured,

Feet, Legs

Date
03.02.2020

Pilot
Male

Age:
71

Rating:
AP

Flying Experience:
17 years

194 hours

Location
None,
Lechlade,
UK

Wing Type
Other

Wing:
High Aventure
Beamer Emergency Parachute

Summary
During repack session pilot noticed that the control handle sticks had been threaded through the metal rings. They should NOT have been put through the rings but simply inserted into the sleeves.

Injury
Pilot:
Unhurt

Date
27.10.2019

Pilot
Female

Age:
25

Flying Experience:
7 years


Location
Beddingham,
Lewes,
UK

Wing Type
Other

Summary
Student was walking up the training hill and twisted her ankle

Injury
Pilot:
Minor Injuries,

Feet, Legs

Date
12.08.2019

Pilot
Unknown
Location
Unknown

Wing Type
Other

Summary
Gin Verso airbag harness was in for routine parachute repack and packer noticed airbag in harness had split along an internal seam therefore allowing air to escape. Packer noted that this was a recurring problem with this type of harness.

Injury
Unknown


Date
06.07.2019

Pilot
Male

Age:
57

Flying Experience:
7 years

1 flight
(1 flight)

Location
Field opposite Upton Marina,
Upton,
UK

Wind Strength:
5-10 km/h

Conditions:
Calm,
Light Turbulence

Wing Type
Other

Wing:
Waterbird
Mistral

Launch Type:
Winch/vehicle Tow

Summary
Student did parachute landing fall as is done with round canopy but hurt left shin. Checked by paramedic who was onsite.

Injury
Pilot:
Minor Injuries,

Feet, Legs

Last updated: 27 January 2026

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A number of incident analysis reports are also available in the safety section of main portal, bhpa.co.uk. These are compiled from the individual incident reports submitted during the course of each year.

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