What happened
During the Celtic Cup Hang Gliding Competition on 25 May 2003, an experienced pilot was performing a task from Mount Leinster toward a goal area near Courtown, County Wexford. While descending toward the target, the pilot attempted to execute a loop maneuver. The AirBorne WindSports Climax 13 failed to complete the vertical rotation due to insufficient airspeed.
As the glider lost momentum at the top of the loop, the pilot's feet moved onto the back of the sail, triggering a tail-slide and a subsequent tumble through several rotations. During this uncontrolled sequence, the pilot lost his grip on the control bar and became entangled in the glider's keel. Although the pilot successfully deployed the emergency reserve parachute on his third attempt, the glider's keel fractured under the stress of the maneuver. This structural failure rendered the aircraft uncontrollable. The pilot and the glider struck the ground before the reserve canopy could fully inflate, resulting in one fatality.