Experienced pilot crashed during takeoff after multiple failed launch attempts in zero/variable wind conditions. Exhausted from repeated attempts, launched toward a tree, attempted aggressive low-altitude turn to avoid it, spun out and slid into the ground. Minor equipment damage, no injuries.
Ground Object Collision / Near Miss
Maximum — exactly determined
On Christmas Eve, after flying all day, pilot returned for evening zero-wind practice. Made 5-7 failed launch attempts over 45 minutes. Initially saw smoke indicators showing south wind direction but didn't set up windsock. After multiple failures, set up windsock and discovered wind was actually from north. Set up for north launch but was exhausted and positioned too close to trees. During launch attempt, wing came up crooked to the left, requiring pilot to run under it toward a tree. Came off ground approximately 20 yards from tree at very low altitude. Attempted aggressive left turn to avoid tree while at full power. Successfully avoided tree but spun out and slid into ground in ground contact while still in turning flight.
Primary cause was pilot exhaustion leading to poor decision making and mental fog after 45 minutes of repeated launch attempts. Contributing factors: 1) Failed to set up windsock initially, relying on visual smoke indicators that were misleading for local field conditions. 2) Variable/light wind conditions with thermal activity causing wind direction changes. 3) Set up too close to obstacles due to exhaustion/laziness. 4) Attempted aggressive low-altitude turn instead of aborting or ground-taxiing in a turn. 5) Difficulty launching Zeno 2-liner wing in zero wind conditions, possibly catching tailwind puffs during inflation attempts.
Not deployed
grass field
Wrong input triggered incident
No injuries, only grass stain on clothing
December 24, 2019
United States
Springhill, Louisiana
Footlaunch
Atom 80
Zeno
Kyle O'Glee
Experienced paramotor instructor, runs paramotor school
Zero to light variable winds, 3 mph or less with changing direction
Evening, sunset time, calm conditions with light variable thermal activity
Light thermal activity causing wind direction changes and puffs from different directions
Paramotor Crash: In Depth Analysis by Kyle O'Glee Pilot's own analysis: "On Christmas eve, I spent the entire day flying. I came back for an evening of zero wind practice, but ended up entirely worn out. This ultimately led to poor decision making and a paramotor crash." Key quotes from pilot: - "I was set up and as I would do the inflation I would catch a bit of a tail wind and the glider would lag behind me and it would never actually fully come up" - "I had smoked like two blocks to my right two blocks to my left I had smoked indicators all coming out of the south so I thought why would I not why would I put up a windsock" - "when was coming out of the north by the time I realized that it was so many attempts into it that I was just I was just spent" - "I had two options either crash the glider into the tree or miss the tree and risk contacting the cage onto the ground and I did and I lost" - "I was 50 percent right I avoided the tree I did not get out of there" Damage: - Broke propeller tips - Damaged cage netting (quarter panel) - Some scratches on paramotor - Frame intact and sturdy Pilot's lessons learned: 1. Should have set up windsock from beginning instead of relying on visual smoke indicators 2. Physical exhaustion led to mental fog and poor decision making 3. Should have set up further from obstacles 4. Could have ground-taxied in a turn around the tree instead of attempting flight 5. Zeno 2-liner glider is difficult to launch in zero wind conditions