History of the Flight
At about 1351 hours on 26 December 2022, an Ozone Rush 6 paraglider took off from Ngong Ping, a paragliding area in Ma On Shan. The Pilot planned to top land at the take-off site. At about 1401 hrs, the paraglider was found descending rapidly and became stranded at a bush area in the southeast of Pyramid Hill. The Pilot, who was flying solo, was seriously injured.
At about 1404 hrs, a witness called 999 for emergency help and reported that a paragliding pilot was stranded on the hillside. The Fire Services Department immediately launched a rescue operation in conjunction with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Government Flying Service. At about 1442 hrs, the GFS located the Pilot and his paraglider on a hill slope of Pyramid Hill. The Pilot was immediately conveyed to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for medical treatment by a GFS helicopter.
Injuries to Persons
The Pilot was seriously injured. There were no passengers on this flight.
Damage – Paraglider
The paraglider sustained damage. The canopy and helmet were examined as part of the investigation.
Meteorological Factors
The investigation team obtained weather information from the Hong Kong Observatory. Weather conditions at the time included wind speed and direction data relevant to the area.
Flight Recorders and Data
The variometer recorded data during the flight. Flight track data were recovered and video recordings were provided by a witness.
Wreckage and Impact
The paraglider impacted the bush terrain at southeast Pyramid Hill. The canopy was examined and appeared to be in serviceable condition prior to the impact. The helmet was also examined.
Investigation Findings
The investigation found that this accident was probably caused by the loss of control of the paraglider, resulting in an impact with the terrain that rendered multiple injuries to the Pilot. Two safety recommendations were made.
Safety Recommendations
Safety Recommendation SR-2024-08 and SR-2024-09 were issued to relevant authorities.