Pilot continued flying south as large thunderstorm approached from inland. Caught by violent turbulent winds while trying to return, experienced multiple 50%+ collapses, lost altitude and plunged into water at 50-80 feet still strapped in. Wing dragged him backwards through water. Managed to unbuckle underwater and was rescued by surfer.
Turbulence
Maximum â exactly determined
Pilot came out after lunch to fly in afternoon sea breeze conditions. Large black billowing thunderclouds were observed moving briskly toward the beach from inland (west). Wind started coming from west (offshore). Pilot took off heading south despite the approaching storm. Two other pilots who were overhead quickly landed. The pilot climbed to several hundred feet and attempted to return to LZ but was caught by the storm. He was over the beach heading inland toward the storm, fighting increasing wind to avoid water landing while being blown out to sea. Experienced violent turbulent wind and several collapses of at least 50%. With each collapse lost more altitude. At about 50-80 feet, the last collapse sent him plunging into the water. Hit water fully strapped in without taking good breath. Front of wing hit first, trapping air and keeping him afloat, but strong wind pushed wing like sail, dragging him backwards through water with motor attached. He could barely reach hand to surface while being dragged. Managed to slowly and methodically unfasten buckles one at a time and free himself. Was rescued by surfer and brought to shore. The day before, similar occurrence happened with this pilot and another being caught offshore but managing to return (storm wasn't as strong). This was the pilot's third water landing incident.
Pilot misjudged severity and approach speed of thunderstorm system. Continued to fly and climb while storm was visibly approaching with billowing black clouds. Failed to land immediately when other pilots landed. Got caught by gust front and violent turbulence from thunderstorm while trying to return to landing zone. Strong offshore winds from the storm prevented return to beach.
Not deployed
water
Mostly wrong inputs while reacting
January 1, 2006
United States
Footlaunch
Silex
Return to the incident list: Incident List Water Landing PPG Type: Type of Injury: Pilot Details Age: 0 Weight: 0 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level: Gear Details Wing Brand: Model: Silex Size: Paramotor Frame: N/A with Incident Details January 1, 2006 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident: I came out of the hotel after lunch and a little nap to fly in the afternoon, sea breeze air that typically develops. I was warming up my motor, looking around and noticed there were only 2 pilots in the air, directly over the LZ, several hundred feet up. Looking into the western (inland) sky I observed big, black, billowing, boiling thunderclouds moving briskly toward the beach. The breeze was now starting to come from the west, off shore but not yet that strong. At this same time, a 3rd pilot took off heading south. He appeared to have a riser twist. Another observing pilot told me that he had brake extensions, one of which wrapped around both risers. It appeared he quickly solved that problem. At this point I decided to stay on the ground, seeing how it was that I was the leading contender for the âDumb Ass of the Fly In â award, due to my crash the previous day. And besides, My momma didnât raise no fool. With billowing black clouds ( and I mean billowing), charging in like a freight train, it seemed like a âno brainerâ to stay on the ground. Two minutes later, a friend walked by and with a stern tone asking me to please âstay on the groundâ. Hey, you donât have to tell me twice. The clouds were stretched a long way up and down the beach, both to the north and the south. The 2 pilots that were in the air overhead quickly landed. Another pilot continued flying south and climbing higher. Three or 4 minutes later he had several hundred feet of altitude and it appeared he was heading back to the LZ. At this point, even an untrained, casual observer could have figured out the pilot was about to have an appointment with a serious problem. He was over the beach, heading inland toward the storm, obviously fighting an increasing wind to avoid a paraswim. At this moment I started running down the beach toward him, because the inevitable was obviously approaching quickly. He was fighting the violent, turbulent wind, while at the same time being blown out to sea . He was being tossed in all directions and experienced several collapses of at least 50%. With each collapse he lost more altitude, until at about 50 to 80 feet , the last collapse sent him plunging into the water. I continued sprinting down the beach. A young lifeguard ran past me dragging a float on a sling. A minute later a surfer ran past me carrying a surfboard. Now Iâm thinking I shouldâve taken up jogging because Iâm running out of gas and these young bucks are blowing right by me. Needless to say by the time I got to the entry point I was too winded to swim and smart enough not to try. Consequently, the young life guard only made it about halfway to the downed pilot before he started to drown and had to be rescued by another surfer, who was the son of an attending paraglider pilot. After throwing up blood on the surfboard the lifeguard was brought to shore. The hard pounding rain and wind were in full force. By this time 3 SUV police cars, 2 lifeguard trucks and another life guard truck towing a jet ski were on the scene, with the jet ski heading out through the waves for the rescue. There had been no sign of the pilot since he entered the water as observed from shore, and after what seemed like an eternity, I feared that he didnât make it; my heart sunk. About 10 minutes later, the pilot was dragged to shore by the surfer, right in front of where I was standing. I ran out into the water and greeted the pilot , we talked for a few minutes and then decided that it would probably be a good idea to go up the beach and inform the hard working rescue team that the pilot was standing right here on the beach. Whew! Pilotâs version as told to me: He didnât think the storm was a threat. (He obviously didnât take it seriously enough) . (Side note â often times the afternoon thunderstorms will be held at bay and kept inland, by the onshore sea breeze , unable to penetrate all the way to the beach. This however, wasnât one of those days). The pilot recounted his effort to fly the wing in the turbulent air , while taking collapses and trying to steer to the shore. Because of this effort he didnât unbuckle and hit the water fully strapped in. He said the he hit the water without taking a good breath of air before going under. The front of the wing hit first, leaving the air trapped in the wing. Keeping him afloat. But then the strong wind was pushing the wing like a sail and actually dragging him with the motor attached, backwards through the water. He could just barely reach his hand to the surface while being dragged backwards. He tried to relax, and slowly and methodically reached for each buckle and unfastened them one at a time, miraculously freeing himself. Points to ponder: 1. The day before, a similar occurrence happened. This pilot and another pilot were caught just off shore and had trouble making it back (but did). That day the storm wasnât as strong and did not come all the way to the beach. 2. This same pilot has gone into the water on 2 previous occasions. 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): Video (if available): Other Files (if available): Return to the incident list: Incident List