Synopsis
On 19 March 2024, at approximately 17:58 UTC, a paraglider pilot sustained serious injuries during a launch attempt from Maughanablagher Cliffs, near Conor Pass, Co. Kerry, Ireland. The pilot, flying a Windtech AMBAR 29 paraglider, was attempting a forward launch when the canopy suffered an asymmetric collapse shortly after he jumped from the cliff edge. Control was lost, and the pilot collided with the rocky cliff face. He was rescued by the Dingle Coast Guard Unit and transported to a local hospital.
History of the Flight
The pilot and a friend drove from Dingle to a car park overlooking Conor Pass. After crossing a road, they climbed a hill east of the car park in search of a launch site. The pilot considered proceeding to the summit of Sliabh Mhacha Ré but stopped near Maughanablagher Cliffs due to the inconvenience of carrying the paraglider without its backpack. He reported no discernible wind and believed a launch in any direction was possible. After inspecting the paraglider for knots, tangled lines, and checking the risers, he commenced a forward take-off run over marshy ground. As he ran, the canopy moved slightly ahead of him, and upon jumping from the cliff edge, the canopy suffered an asymmetric collapse on the right-hand side. Video footage showed the canopy fully inflated before the jump but moving forward, and following the jump, the asymmetry caused a rapid right turn toward the cliff face. The canopy reinflated, but the pilot could not regain effective control before impact.
Rescue Operation
The pilot, despite serious injuries, used his mobile phone to call emergency services at 18:00 hrs. The Garda Síochána arrived at 18:19 hrs, and the Dingle Coast Guard Unit was tasked at 18:26 hrs. By 18:55 hrs, the Coast Guard team located the casualty 50 metres above the road and 200 metres east of the car park. They anchored ropes near the launch site and abseiled down to the injured pilot. He was secured and lowered by stretcher to an ambulance at 20:03 hrs. The Coast Guard unit returned to base at 21:18 hrs.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalization and a long convalescence period. The paraglider canopy was in generally good condition but showed ripping consistent with contact with the rocky cliff face. The nature of damage to the paraglider was classified as minor.
Paraglider and Pilot Information
The paraglider was a Windtech AMBAR 29, serial number 9083271, manufactured in 2000. It was unpowered. The pilot, aged 34, held a Club Pilot Rating issued by the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA) and had approximately 60 hours of flying experience on paragliders. He had acquired the paraglider about five years prior via an online marketplace without a user manual. Most of his training was informal until January 2024, when he completed a formal BHPA-registered course in Spain, interrupted by poor weather.