[psuguru]

[dave hopkins]

[psuguru]

I agree with all you have said.
However, life isn't perfect and people have different levels of skill and ability.
The thing about this accident was that he was being towed, and towed into the ground at about 18mph (think "high speed bicycle accident"). The pilot was pulling the glider via the hang strap and wouldn't have swung, because he'd already be forward in the frame. The only thing that might have saved his arms, given that the wheels had stuck, would have been letting go, but who knows what would have happened then. He probably had about 1-2 seconds of "Oh ,s***" time to sort himself out.

I've only recently completed a tow course and the instructor was very particular about the wheels in use. He made one student exchange his wheels for a school set and thought that my 9" pneumatics were only just adequate, given the field we were in.
But I didn't turn up for the course without wheels................

[dave hopkins]

[quote="psuguru"]I agree with all you have said.
However, life isn't perfect and people have different levels of skill and ability.
The thing about this accident was that he was being towed, and towed into the ground at about 18mph (think "high speed bicycle accident"). The pilot was pulling the glider via the hang strap and wouldn't have swung, because he'd already be forward in the frame. The only thing that might have saved his arms, given that the wheels had stuck, would have been letting go, but who knows what woud have happened then. He probably had about 1-2 seconds of "Oh ,s***" time to sort himself out.

I've only recently completed a tow course and the instructor was very particular about the wheels in use. He made one student exchange his wheels for a school set and thought that my 9" pneumatics were only just adequate, given the field we were in.
But I didn't turn up for the course without wheels................[/quote

I agree . Being on tow and hitting the ground is a very bad situation. It will hurt you . Did it once . Foot launching a toppless . Wrong AOA and that hurt! Stiff neck for a week.

Dave

[dievhart]

Instructor should have known better....just bad.
Diev

[blindrodie]

HAHA just noticed the new AVATAR!!!

Sweet...

[lostgriz]

There have been lots of great and educated opinions voiced here and I will share another for you to consider (not that mine is especially great or educated).

1. I believe that there are people out there that shouldn't be flying. The training process sorts out some these folks, but some slip through the cracks. If you have already broken an arm in a similar accident, maybe you are one of those people. This has nothing to do with how smart you are IMHO. I know of at least one pilot that has their ratings, but should not be in the aire in my opinion and they have been flying for a long time.

2. With all due respect, I have watched many people learning to fly and many times their evaluation of an incident does not reflect the actual circumstances. I am not saying that this is the case here, but I think it is unfair to place too much judgement on the instructor based on this account.

3. Pushing out is a fundamental NO, NO that sounds to be the cause of this accident and based on your write-up, sounds like it may be the reason you broke your arm the last time. If you are flying that low and never gained altitude as you said, you should have had your landing gear below you still. It is common practice from my experience that if a student is pushing out to gain altitude, the instructor will power down and bring them back to the ground, so that they don't gain altitude that could result in a more serious incident. I have seen tow students upset about an incident like this (although not as serious) and grumbling that it was the instructors fault because they should have pulled them higher..... You can certainely see where this logic is flawed, but from the perspective of the student they thought they were doing everything right and just needed more power under tow.

4. The wheels were not the cause of this accident. I have seen people whack with the inflated wheels and the big plastic wheels too. The analogy previously given with the parachute was a good one. IMHO I have seen the two piece wheels work fine before. I recently saw someone roll/slide in on those tiny little WW wheels on a U2 on rough ground and was amazed that they worked. If someone on here has used and had an issue with the two piece wheels, then you are just as guilty of making a mistake to trust these as the instructor and this pilot, so why should the instructor be nailed to the cross over this incident, BASED ON THE INFORMATION AND PERSPECTIVE THAT WE HAVE.

5. I have also been at the site of various types of incidents from broken bones to fatalities (none hang gliding) and I have been amazed at how people have responded, everything from losing it completely to laughter. You hired your instructor to assist you with learning to hang glide, not to be your perfect EMT. Please don't take that as too cold. I have had other people comment on the fact that my wife and I don't cottle our kids. If the bone isn't showing we tell them to dust off and wipe their tears..... I am just saying that everybody handles these type of things differently. He took you to the hospital, that's all you should expect.

Finally, I am very sorry for your injury and wish you the best in your recovery. I have walked away from flight once (PGs), not due to an injury, but because I felt I needed to for my family. I know that is a tough decision an it hurts. I am not the one to say if you should or shouldn't be flying, and neither is anyone on the Org, based on the information that we have. There are lots of different ways to enjoy flight, it just may not be that hang gliders is not the right fit for you and your circumstances.

Heal well my friend.

[dievhart]

[jjcote]

[lostgriz]

[Alex]

[bisleybob]

i think any descision you make as a student should be checked and confirmed by the instructor period. thats what you pay them for, what if you had turned up with the wrong wheels you would expect him to say hold on they are not suitable.

if the wheels where not suitable then he should have sent you home, to allow you to continue with impropper stuff is negligent,

the descision to go ahead with training was the instructors, often asumptions are made with returning pilots that they can skip steps or progress quicker as its not their first time and so now we have our margin for error. "he should be ok on that" is often herd. should?? how about he stays on the training kit until he proves he doesnt need it.

i dont know the schools there but here everything is provided, checked and suitable. they check all your descisions with the only thing they cant control being your actions in the air, but even then can respond to them with advice by radio.

when you are qualified you are responsible for your self, when you are training they are responsible for you at leased as far as the right equipment is concearned.

it is sad that you are the third pilot i know who has quit due to a injoury in training.