Beginner pilot with less than 10 hours experience crashed during landing attempt in strong thermal conditions. After flying for an hour up to 5K feet, pilot encountered significant thermal activity below 1500 feet during landing approach. Attempted go-around but paramotor continued sinking and collided with ground in seated position.
Turbulence
High — very likely identified
Pilot waited for overcast morning clouds to break up and launched at approximately 10:15 AM from airport. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet with mild thermal activity below clouds. Flew for one hour reaching up to 5000 feet before returning to airport. Below 1500 feet encountered strong thermal activity. Set up for landing but was getting shaken around significantly. Decided to go around and applied throttle, but felt the paramotor sinking anyway and collided with ground in a seated position. Frame underside bent, propeller destroyed, fuel tank ruptured by prop.
Strong thermal activity during midday landing approach. Pilot attempted go-around but insufficient altitude/power to overcome downdraft or sink rate in thermal conditions. Lack of experience (less than 10 hours) likely factor in decision-making and thermal awareness.
Not deployed
ground/terrain
Some correct and some wrong inputs
Bruised hand, bruise left side rib cage. No medical treatment necessary.
June 16, 2024
11:20:00
United States
Hartsville, South Carolina
Footlaunch
Iris Infinity
Moster 185
BGD
Magic Motor
L
1500 m
Age: 51, Weight: 225 lbs, Male, PPG 1 rating, Less than 10 hours experience
3.1 m/s
Moderate Wind (5-9 mph)
Overcast morning that broke up to scattered clouds at 2000 feet by 10:15 AM
Mild thermal activity below clouds initially, strong thermal activity below 1500 feet during landing. Gusty conditions with thermal activity and dust devils present.
Landing crash in thermal conditions PPG Type: Foot Launch – Single Occupant Type of Injury: Minor Injury Pilot Details: Age: 51 Weight: 225 Gender: Male Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Beginner – PPG 1 Pilot experience level: Less than 10 hours Gear Details: Wing Brand: BGD Model: Magic Motor Size: L Paramotor Frame: Iris Infinity with Moster 185 Incident Details: June 16, 2024 11:20 AM Location of the incident: Hartsville, South Carolina Type of Incident: Collision with terrain or ground obstacle, Hard Landing, Prop Strike Overcast morning so I waited until the clouds broke up. Approximately 10:15 launched from airport, scattered clouds at 2K feet. Mild thermal activity below clouds. Flew for an hour up to 5K feet and returned to airport. Below 1500 feet strong thermal activity. Set up for landing and was getting shaken around a lot. decided to go around and gave it gas. Felt the paramotor sinking anyway and collided with the ground in a seated position. Underside of frame bent, prop destroyed, fuel tank ruptured by prop. Mild injury to myself, bruised hand, bruise left side rib cage. No medical treatment necessary. Flight Window: Midday Wind Speed: Moderate Wind (5-9 mph) Type: Gusty / Thermal Activity / Dust Devil Phase of Flight: Landing Type of Injury: Minor Injury Collateral Damage: None