What happened
On 16 December 2011, during the Winelands Open paragliding competition, a pilot launched from a mountain site at Farm Pampoenfontein, north of Porterville. Immediately following the launch, observers on the ground noticed the pilot was positioned unnaturally within his harness. It became apparent that the pilot was not properly secured to the equipment.
For approximately five minutes, the pilot attempted to maintain his position by gripping the shoulder straps and risers of the Advance Sigma 7 glider. However, as his physical strength failed, he slipped from the harness and fell roughly 1-10m to the ground. The impact resulted in one fatality.
The investigation
An investigation into the accident examined the pilot's experience, the equipment used, and the environmental conditions at the time of the launch. The pilot was a qualified professional with 400 hours of total flying experience and 150 hours on this specific type. The weather at the time of the accident was stable, with light southwest winds and clear skies.
Investigators examined the Advance Impress 2 harness and the glider, finding both to be in serviceable condition with no mechanical defects. The investigation also looked at the specific design of the cocoon-type harness used, which features an aerodynamic fairing that can obscure the visibility of the main support straps. Testing conducted by investigators with volunteer pilots suggested that a person in this configuration can typically only hold on for about three to three and a half minutes before restricted blood flow causes them to lose their grip.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot failed to secure the main support straps of his harness prior to launch.
- The aerodynamic fairing and an attached instrument panel on the harness obscured the pilot's view of the unfastened straps.
- The pilot launched from a steep section of the takeoff area, which prevented an abort of the launch once the error was realized.
- The accident occurred during a private flight as part of a sanctioned competition.