[Erik Boehm]

I wasn't going to post anything about it until those who actually saw the paraglider crash (Paul Gazis), and saw the pilot while he was alive posted something...
But then it was on the news reported as a Hang glider crash, and within minutes (maybe less than 1 minute), one of my mom's coworkers had called her to make sure it wasn't anyone in my family.
There are hundreds of HG pilots that fly Ed Levin, with thousands of people that care about them. When the news reports a paraglider death as a hang glider death, they potentially cause thousands of people to worry about those they care for, for no other reason than poor reporting.

It is for this reason I feel it is relevant to make sure the community knows it was a paraglider, and not a hang glider.
I suspect due to the frequency of misreporting, people who care for people that paraglide still get worried when they hear of a local hang glider crash.

I have some other comments about the incident I will make in due time.

I also have his name, but I will refrain from posting it now as well (if there is a PG pilot that flies Ed Levin that you have not been able to contact, you may PM me).

I went flying, got 17 minutes, it was a backside launch. It was blowing out of the north/off the back some punchy thermals, its my understanding it only got stronger after I landed (This guy launched after I landed and was most/all of the way through tearing down).

There were two PGs significantly above the guy (almost directly over) who crashed, they were above/even with takeoff to the ridge to the right of launch (from launch, looking at the LZ).
I observed the guy who crashed flying below these two, flying just above/below the ridge, at times he was definitely below the top of the ridge, on the side of the ridge facing the LZ (making it likely the lee side, given it was blowing off the back/out of the north, but the flags on the 3 and 6 were more westerly, so I don't know exactly how it was blowing at that ridge).

A few minutes later, Paul sees the guy crash, and seems to think it was pretty bad. (He reported seeing the wing surge forward, I'm not confident enough on the rest of the details to report after that)

We watch for some time, and do not see any movement, even through binoculars (although one person did think he saw some movement)

The guy was apparently alive when the first people got to him (people who were already on top), but I am not confident enough to report with certainty what state he was in, or what injuries he had.
Apparently he was being given CPR, but it was not enough to save him. It seems the guy was dead by the time the emergency personnel got to him, and he was declared dead at the scene (I assume, this declaration was made, as the guy was put in a body bag).

[DaveB]

PG, HG, Rigid Wing, Sailplane, Powered.. it makes no difference, a fellow pilot died ! May he rest in peace.

[Cloudhopper]

I'm really sorry to hear about this accident. This was widely reported on local news media as a hang gliding fatality. This was cleared up by a report in the San Jose mercury news. My prayers go out to his family and friends.

[Skyhighwoman]

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/south_bay&id=8430605

very sad.

my thoughts go out to the family friends.

[lostgriz]

This is very sad.... RIP my friend.

[ChattaroyMan]

Having been in a strong lee side rotor before I can testify to the high speeds one can attain in relationship to the ground. I'm guessing from what info. is in this thread so far that this pilot was in a lee side rotor.
When you are in a lee side rotor you're also likely somewhat close to the ground (or soon will be - considering a smaller ridge or hill - not necessarily an entire range in a rotor). One also has very little control in a rotor. Zip for control + high speed relative to the ground + the ground = a very bad situation to get into. The stronger the wind speed the worse the rotor. Avoid lee side rotors at all costs.

The only worse turbulence I've been in have been shears in winter when warmer air is blowing over (at various angles) colder air. Since winter is more/less upon us be cautious of situations were wind next to the surface is little or none yet you see indications of winds aloft (and not too far aloft). One such shear I flew into in an ultralight produced a situation where I saw my breath in front of my face 2 or 3 times before exiting the shear. It was also coupled with sudden 90º banks and near 90º down pitches - all while smoke below me was coming straight up out of chimneys. I entered this shear flying horizontally. It was all I could do to keep my craft upright while trying to head back the way I came from. I don't think I would have been able to do so without the aid of power. In other words - one can get upside down in a shear and then fall against the craft. In the ultra I was strapped into the seat (Quicksilver MXL).

All pilots need to know the various kinds of air movement conditions we may encounter. Better to know enough about them in order to avoid them. This pilot (may he rest in peace) may have not known what he was up against. His accident may or may not have been avoidable (might have been some other cause we may yet learn about). However, rotors and shears are avoidable - not 100% but ..... be careful. This pilot's death is a tragic loss regardless of cause. We each need to be better pilots to help limit these sad occurrences.

[Phoenix]

Ed Leven is usually a pretty benign place, but wind shadow gradient can
become a factor at certain spots in certain winds. Very sad, bless the responders
for doing what they could.

[joefaust]

Everett A. Greel III, 51, of San Jose, California, USA.

[hgflyer]

[AirNut]

[Alan]

I am sure this will be the major topic of discussion at the WOR meeting tomorrow. For those who want to know the details, the best information you can get will be there.

[joefaust]

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/11/14/paraglider-plunges-to-his-death-in-milpitas/

Northern California Cross Country Pilot's Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SFBAPAXC/

Prior HG experience. Then PG.

[kadiir]

Although I had only known & worked next to Chip (literally - 5 feet away) for the last 13 months, he will be missed. He was quite a character. He always seemed willing or even eager to help out & teach others. In fact, I wouldn't even have this job if it weren't for him (we met in a training class a few months after I was layed off from my previous job).

He definitely left an impression on the ~17 months he worked here. Many people were saddened to hear the news (even people with whom he's butted heads in the past).

I don't know if it was accurate, but the report on CBS5's (Channel 5) website said he was at "about 80 feet" when it happened. There's also a short video of the scene showing the hill from a helicopter (I think) & what looks like the glider sail on the ground (sorry, not a pilot - hope I got the term correct).

edit: I see joefaust posted the link to the story I mentioned above.

[kadiir]

Chip's wife sent out an email this morning wherein she states that his recently acquired glider (IIRC, he had upgraded from a beginner rig to a more advanced one a couple of months ago) suffered an equipment failure and he was trying to land but impacted the ground too hard and died from internal injuries.

She also mentioned that there is a memorial planned on 12/4 @ ~11am at Ed Levin Park.

There's also a Facebook page up but I don't have the link yet.

[Manta_Dreaming]

This was also initially reported the the San Francisco Chronicle as a homicide, which goes to underline that one cannot rely on the initial reporting for facts of any story.

[Avolare]

Rest in Peace

[hpyatcldbs]

My condolences.Rest in peace