Incident Overview
At about 1345 hours on 15 February 2023, a paraglider pilot took off from the paragliding take-off area at Biu Tsim Kok in Long Ke, Hong Kong. He was flying a PHI Fantasia 22 paraglider and planned to land on the beach. Approximately five minutes later, at about 1350 hours, the pilot was observed landing short of the beach and became stranded in the sea about 60 metres from the shore.
Rescue and Outcome
The pilot was rescued by a Government Flying Service helicopter and airlifted to a hospital for medical management. He was certified dead later that same day.
Equipment and Preparation
The pilot used a PHI Fantasia 22 paraglider, an Advance Progress 3 harness, and an external flight deck. He did not wear a lifejacket or carry any other personal buoyancy aid.
Witness Documentation
Several video clips recorded by witnesses captured various stages of the pre-flight preparation, the take-off, a portion of the flight, and the unexpected water landing. These recordings provided valuable information for the investigation.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation, conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) under Hong Kong regulations, concluded that this accident was probably caused by the paraglider landing short of the beach, resulting in a water landing and the subsequent drowning of the pilot.
Safety Recommendations
The investigation team issued three safety recommendations as a result of the findings.