Fatal hang-gliding accident inquiry

A champion hang-glider pilot who died from injuries suffered in a fall at a gliding competition in Co Wexford last year lost control of the aircraft when he tried to carry out a manoeuvre for which neither he nor the craft were qualified to perform, an investigation into the accident has found.

Mr Shane O'Reilly (33), a leading figure in the sport who represented Ireland in gliding and founded the Mount Leinster Hang-Gliding Club, fell from his Climax 13 glider when he attempted to perform a loop as he approached the finishing point in the Celtic Cup Hang-Gliding Competition at Pollshone, near Courtown.

The glider failed to complete the loop and slid backwards into a series of reverse loops during which he became detached from the control bar and lost control.

In a report on the incident, which occurred on May 25th last, the Department of Transport Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) found Mr O'Reilly had made several attempts to deploy his reserve parachute. When it did deploy, insufficient height remained to recover the situation and he and his hang glider hit the ground simultaneously.

Mr O'Reilly was taken to hospital where he died from his injuries nine days later.

The AAIU noted that, in common with all hang gliders, the Climax 13 was "not certified for aerobatic manoeuvres".

The AAIU recommended that the Irish Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Association (IHPA), which was "particularly involved in promoting high safety standards" in the sport, should issue a safety notice to all pilots stating that they should not attempt to perform manoeuvres outside the manufacturer's specified flying parameters.