Paragliding can be dangerous, when you do the wrong things. So in this article I'll identify some common causes of paragliding accidents, and what you can do to avoid them.

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1. CRASH LANDING!

Crash landings are usually caused by poor glider control: a bad approach, landing downwind, turning low, no pitch control, flying into a hazard, landing behind an obstacle, or poor flare timing.

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Reduce the risk of a crash by keeping two landing options available within easy glide, and favouring long landing strips, lined up into the wind.

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Improve your chances by practicing spot landings, swoop flares, butterfly beats, and always approaching with your legs down.

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2. FAILED LAUNCH!

Launch sites can be dangerous places, with steep slopes, rocks, and tricky winds. Control errors can lead to getting overpowered, turning the wrong way, or running at a different speed to the wing causing a sudden lift and dump, a collapse, or a turn into the slope.

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Reduce the risk of a failed launch by doing a complete preflight check, setting a clear stop line on your launch, and limiting the range of wind conditions to less than 25km/h and within 45 degrees off straight up the slope.

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Improve your chances by practicing your ground handling, on a slope, including smooth launches.

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3. COLLAPSED WING!

In most cases, a wing collapse should not lead to an accident. Paragliders can usually be recovered. But according to a study by the FFVL, over 90% of pilots don’t throw their reserve when they should during a collapse that leads to an accident. Practice reserve deployment at home so you’re mentally prepared to do it (you can tie the inner bag shut during simulations, just be sure to untie it again!)

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Reduce the risk of a collapsed wing by flying actively (catch the wing using the brakes when it surges forwards).

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Improve your chances by getting SIV training to develop your pitch control and collapse recovery. My friend Jocky Sanderson runs regular courses in Turkey. My Academy members get special prices.

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BECOME A SAFE PILOT

With good preparation and a sensible approach, paragliding can be safe. But it takes dedication, training, and constant vigilance to guard against complacency.

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Try to reduce the number of risk elements that will impact you to avoid ‘decision overload'. Learn more about managing these risks and building a safe flying strategy, watch the series How to Avoid an Accident

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© GREG HAMERTON