Raean Permenter - 1998/01/12 00:06
I talked with Bob's wife, Jeannie, and Bob Sunday morning. All considered, he's doing well. He's had two surgeries and had pins inserted in his wrists. The prognosis appears good. Jeannie said his injuries are broken bones in both wrists, a couple of fingers, right leg, and foot bones.
Jeannie is holding up, but is tired. At Jeannie's request, we'll use this list and just a couple of pilots as an information clearninghouse so Jeannie and Bob do not get overwhelmed with telephone calls. If you can pass on info about Bob to pilots not on the list, please do so.
The expectation now is that he'll be in the hospital in Johnstown for a week. Depending on his status, he might have to go to a rehab hospital from there, but will likely be allowed to go home. The army will supply a day nurse and necessary equipment, so his support system is good.
Judy McCarty - 1998/01/12 15:14
I was not there at the time of the incident, but arrived shortly thereafter. Bob launched unhooked at the Pulpit last Saturday morning. He met terra firma in the form of the rocks below launch. Others who know more would be welcome to speak.
He had not been in any particular rush to launch; time was not a factor. The three pilots who were serving as his wire crew are feeling pretty badly about the whole thing, as you can imagine.
Steve Kinsley - 1998/01/13 03:02
Devising a procedure that is proof against distractions and is appropriate in every situation is difficult. I favor hooking in before moving up to the ramp but I don't think there is a single, best answer. And I suspect any grand schemes to force wire crews or pilots to do things in a particular order will just increase the hassle factor and not affect safety.
Let me suggest two things:
1. Do a final dip or back step until you feel the strap tighten as part of picking up the glider to launch.
2. Most importantly, concentrate on what you are doing and refuse to be hurried or distracted."
Judy McCarty - 1998/01/29 20:05
Thanks to all for the good discussion that was had last night: constructive ideas, individual preferences, checklists, and the sobering reality check that it could/will happen again.
While a lot of discussion involved procedures with wire crews, there are still many instances when pilots launch sans. That last big Woodstock day in December, with dozens of pilots in attendance, is a good example. Pilots were around, busy setting up and hustling to get in launch line; I and many others self-launched. While I was in line I requested help from a setting-up pilot to hold the glider while I went down for a hang check, but there was no routine or system in place that day that would have backed me up if I'd missed it.
I don't do New Year's resolutions, but this year I have some January 29th resolutions:
1. Request that wire crews not interrupt my hook-in and hang check procedure. This may mean that I do two procedures--their's in addition to my own, but I should not allow their's to replace mine.
2. When joining up as wire crew assistance to a launch procedure already in motion, to not assume and always ask if the hang check has been done.
3. To personally implement the USHGA standard: "with each flight, pilot demonstrates method of establishing that pilot is hooked in *just prior* to launch." Over the past month many pilots have talked about what they do to assure that they launch hooked in. Some *always* hook the harness in to the glider before suiting up. Others always hook in *before* going to launch. Ok, so those methods don't work for me. But what *would* work for me is to do something every time right before I launch. I suspect I will need different methods for different sites, but this is something I believe I should be doing better.
Steve Kinsley - 1998/02/02 01:59
I would like to second Judy's hook in post. I particularly like the emphasis on implementing the USHGA standard of verifying that you are hooked in just prior to launch. In practice, that means a visual check or a tug on the harness lines after ALL CHECKLIST ITEMS (including a hang check) have been completed.
I started doing that after my near launch unhooked from High Rock several years ago. It works. I think I have a reasonable claim to being the world's most scatter-brained living hang glider pilot. But I can say that I don't think I am going to get my lunch by failing to hook in. You should be able to say the same. I have special knowledge when it comes to forgetting things. So trust me here. You need to do this.
Marc Fink - 1998/04/29 08:33
Screwed the pooch
Flew the rock on Monday with Steve where we encountered fairly strong and north cross conditions. Steve launched first and climbed out to roughly 2K, an altitude I could never reach during my entire flight. We both managed around 1.5 hours.
On the way out I stopped and visited with Bob Gillisse, who is doing remarkable well. He is moving his hands and walking about very well. I think he can't wait to start hang gliding again. When I left and drove home, I reflected on his situation, and the nature of our sport. I've always considered myself a meticulous pilot when it comes to preflight procedures, and have always stuck with a routine which I felt would prevent anything like that from happening to me.
Less than 24 hours later I would launch unhooked from High Point in Cumberland.
I was there with just a few pilots. Larry Huffman launched first into very light conditions, and had a very quick ride (for him) to the LZ due to light conditions. A line of pilots formed at launch. I had performed my usual preflight and self hook-in check before getting on launch behind the next pilot. Meanwhile, conditions went from questionably soarable to questionably launchable. The pilot in front of me waited for an ideal cycle to launch into, and didn't feel comfortable with the light conditions. After about twenty minutes or so of waiting I became uncomfortable and started trying to find a sit-down or kneeling position while still remaining hooked-in. Sometime during this process my radio slipped off my shoulder strap, and I had to readjust it.
I unhooked to do so and my fate was cast.
I became so distracted by the process of messing with my radio that I clean forgot to hook back in. Also, I was growing impatient with launching and pushed the pilot in front of me to launch. I got on launch and shortly thereafter saw a cycle that I felt I could reasonably launch into. I ran aggresively, and when I was going very fast I leaned forward to prone out while gently easing out on the basetube. I remember thinking for a split second how unusual it was that I was sinking fast towards the ground, despite the tremendous speed I had. The next second was something of a blur, as my harness finally contacted the ground and I perfomed a full sumersault into the rocks and bushes below launch. I heard a bang and some crunching, and my first thought was I had blown my launch when my gider contacted the ground.
I sat up expecting to see to see the twisted wreckage of my glider, but I was down in some brush and couldn't see anything. I then stood up and brushed myself off, and in a flash of incredulous disbelief I realized I had launched unhooked. I climbed back up to launch where I took my gear off and everybody asked me if I was OK. A quick survey revealed no major injuries, my full-face helmet once again saved my face and head from any damage.
My Laminar ST 14 decided to go fly without me anyway, and turned left off of launch. We found it down the mountain some ways where it had slid through the canopy to the ground. I ascertained that I could pack it up by myself, and told the others to go back to launch since they still wanted to fly. With the kind assistance of Todd, (the new driver for the Cumberland boys) I managed to pack and haul my glider up the very steep and very slippery slope.
OK, I've saved the juicy part for last. Details of damage to myself and glider:
I feel like I've been mugged or just played a hard game of tackle football, I have many bumps and bruises from head to toe. The worst injuries appear to be bruises to both hands and my right shoulder. I also hit my right knee hard and got a long abrasion. My knee is sore, and I twisted my left ankle in the process of hauling my glider out of the woods. However, all body parts appear to be fully functional with no excessive pain or swelling. Despite having commited perhaps the ultimate stupidity in hang gliding, I realize fully that I am one hell of a lucky SOB to not have gotten killed. Not so much because of how I hit, but because I had made the error at a shallow slope launch in light conditions.
My glider appears to have flown into the tree canopy and slipped to the ground, impacting left wing down. The tip wand snapped, and the rear leading edge failed just past the juncture with the front. When I broke the glider down I did not observe any major tears or punctures or damage to other tubes, no damage to the carbon cross-bars.
Rather than inspire a new round of soul-searching, safety meetings, and piling up the server with "in my opinions," I would like save everyone the trouble of finding the answer to preventing launching unhooked: Always use the "Australian" method of clipping your harness to the glider. If any diddling of gear or other interuption occurs, climb out and back into the harness after you're done, however inconvenient that might be. Unless you're breaking down or have already flown, once clipped in the harness should never be unclipped from the glider.
Otherwise, your odds are no better than mine.
Steve Kinsley - 1998/05/01 01:16
So Marc thinks the Australian method will forever ban human error and stupidity. I suspect that 80% of the flying community would have unhooked to fix the radio problem instead of getting out of the harness entirely. It is easier. And there you are back in the soup.
"With EACH flight, demonstrates method of establishing that pilot is hooked in JUST PRIOR to launch." Emphasis in original.-- USHGA novice through advanced requirement.
I know of only three people that actually do this. I am one of them. I am sure there are more but not a lot more. Instead we appear to favor ever more complex (and irrelevant) hang checks or schemes like Marc advocates that possibly increase rather than decrease the risk of hook in failure.
http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1149
Team Challenge: Daily Update Thread
Holly Korzilius - 2005/10/01 18:19:55 UTC
Incident at 2005 Team Challenge
I don't have many details at this point, but I just got a call from Scott Wilkinson. Bill Priday launched from Whitwell without hooking in. Scott indicated there was about a hundred foot drop off from launch. Bill's status is unknown at this time. Please pray for him!
I will provide updates as I get them from Scott.
http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1153
Hooking In
Steve Kinsley - 2005/10/02 02:45:48 UTC
I already see where the anger and grief take us. We need to do hang checks, double hang checks. And who was on Bill's wire crew? How could they let that happen?
When Bob Gillisse got hurt I suggested that our local institution of the hang check is more the problem than the solution. I still believe that. It subverts the pilot's responsibility to perform a hook-in check. I often do not see pilots doing a hook in check. Why should they? They just did a hang check and they are surrounded by friends who will make sure this box is checked.
But what if there is no hang check and you are used to one?
DO A HOOK IN CHECK. You need a system that you do every time regardless of how many hang checks you have been subjected to that assures you are hooked in.
I think Steve should be the one getting a Nobel Prize for first starting to really understand this.
A little tug on the velcro and the pilot dropped free.
