If you want to fly, don't let these stop you. Accidents are 99.9% pilot error (Id' say weather related accidents or gear failure are pilot errors too since it's the pilots responsibility to check that everything is flyable) and generally you need to fuck up really bad that you get into a situation like this. If you aren't a reckless kind guy, it's a safe sport.
I'm a motorcyclist, & my life insurance company covers me for riding. They will NOT pay a claim if I die paramotoring or in a motorcycle race. So yes, we can train ourselves to mitigate risks, but statistically, paramotoring is at another level. That said, I would do it if I had the cash reserves to keep my family secure without worrying about life insurance.
I heard about a recent video of a XC Viper collapsing on full speedbar. Does anyone know about a link to this? I thought it might have been in this compilation.
@@brenthollady i agree..controlling the uncontrollable is simple...that's why paragliding is so boring to me. If I decide to toss in an unforseen anomaly such as wind gust or sudden wing collapse or engine failure...it's still my failure..you make sense ..thanks for clearing that up pro
@@brenthollady WHAT? Do you have any flying experience at all? Anything flying in is dangerous (fact, not opinion). The pilot's skill and stability of the machine, mitigates the danger. BUT, the danger is still there. Now a dangerous/bold pilot or non-pilot aggravates the danger of flight = really bad situation. Do you have a pilot's license or any real experience in understanding control of flight?
@@jjdogg0that's just nonsense. Of course there is always a certain amount of uncertainty, but the risk the pilot is willing to take does play a huge role. Like, at what weather conditions he is willing to fly. How aggressive his maneuvers are. Things like that. And yes, I do have several years experience in flying paraglider.
The first of the 3 fatalities, the technical term would be stagnant hypoxia. As you said it’s the inability for blood to reach the brain due to the forces trying to drain the blood down to the lower extremities. Having especially low blood pressure or recently losing a lot of blood can drastically reduce a persons ability to withstand large g forces. So pilots should take it easy if they have recently had an operation, donated blood, or for the ladies if you’ve recently had an especially heavy period. Someone who might normally be able to handle a sustained 5g’s for 30 seconds might find themselves blacking out at 2g in a third the time.
I have a few things about the sport that we need to address.... I became an instructor for both wing HG and PG and during my time accumulating the air time plus being around other pilots I need to say this. Learning how to fly was a real challenge, not that i lacked the necessary skill but there was a lack of instructor initiative. A lot of instructors are very "all about themselves" as if they need to hold on to this secret pilot skill lifestyle. Being a newb at the time, I WANTED to learn how to fly the beach, I WANTED to spend time at the airport, I WANTED to try different wings that were available, I WANTED to get into mini wings/speed flying/PPG/etc, I was hungry because I wanted to be a GREAT pilot safely. Nobody wanted to teach newbs because they think its too dangerous, dont have the time, or they think we/I didnt have the necessary skill. Second, finally fighting tooth and nail to receive my instructor ratings (which took longer than it should of due to previously stated reasons), the same things happened at EVERY flight park/mountain site Ive been to. Given owners of the land need to have "safe ratings" with no accidents but, for example, I've been to Lookout Mountain several times while they were building and opening their PG launch site. NEVER have I seen them so unwelcoming every visit and they never recognized me each time. Even when I inquired about lessons (that I didnt really need). Not to talk bad about one specific site but its all over the US. I guess what I'm saying is there needs to be open welcoming to new pilots that want to learn because it shouldn't take so long to learn the safety techniques, acquire skills, and do what you love due to other pilots jealousy and "keep to myself" mentality. I became an instructor because I love the sport and I love teaching students that want to learn so that they wont have such a hard time like I did.
What they need to do is build a specialized facility so people can train safely maybe with vr goggles or something, maybe an extremely long rope on a pole or something that can catch someone bungee style if shit breaks or bad weather hits People Don't want to train noobs for money because the sport is extremely dangerous and they don't want the guilt or liability, even extremely experienced guys are dying to this hobby.
@stix2you This is far more dangerous than in a plane, a plane can generate shitons of power and has numerous control surfaces, a skilled pilot can manuever out of any bad situation, tiny planes like cessnas have the ability to resist a lightning strike For paramotoring, you are at extreme mercy of winds, and many experienced people have died or have gotten injuries from being thrown around, a lightning strike? You are dead , lines get tangled? Dead A Cessna wings is made of wood and steel, your parmotor wings are made of fragile nylon A Cessna if rain suddenly creeps up, they can outfly the rain storm, a lot of people in this sport have had near death experiences and injuries
@@stix2you no, you missed the whole point. I went out east to train specifically to be an instructor for that company for HG. That’s what i was hired for. Don’t sit here and tell me they thought i wasn’t ready because i was. I studied, i took endless flights of the sand dunes, accumulated plenty of hours. I’m talking about once i was certified other instructors chose favorites to go fly the beach and the other points I’ve mentioned. Telling me “they thought you weren’t ready” is a scapegoat repose because you weren’t there so you didn’t know my skill. After i fought tooth and nail the company sent me to Utah so i can get my flight time for PG because i was more than ready. I understand the skill levels certain students have and the pace at which they need to learn. I’m talking about some instructors need to not play favorites. Other students, like myself at the time, miss out on training they need because of it
I think it is very good for you to review these Paramotor incidents because one could easily get the impression that there really isn’t all that much skill to flying a Paramotor. Just hook everything up correctly, start the motor, and you start running. Walaa! Your flying. And because your so skilled you make it look so easy. But these incidents show just how easy it is to lose control if you don’t really understand all aspects of what it takes to fly a Paramotor. There really is a lot to take into consideration. And you do an excellent job of explaining all those details. I would recommend anyone contemplating flying a Paramotor to go to your channel to understand what your undertaking before your strap one on. Thank you for humanity in doing these videos.
The number 1 danger in the sport is pilot error. Accident reviews are valuable because they help us learn from others mistakes, but also have the side effect of scaring people out of the sport.There is definitely an aspect of danger to paramotoring, but it can be done safely if it's approached with open eyes.
I am a pilot. Practicing emergencies avoids complacency. Study, reviewing crashes, and attending courses for safety. Flying is not forgiving with mistakes.
That's why I don't support ultralights being unlicensed. These people need to go through the same training, carry the same responsibilities, and have the same expectations of themselves as all the rest of us. We all share the airspace and we're being endangered by people who have no business flying whatsoever.
@@robgrey6183I've done skydiving a little bit and we can practice and review emergencies, primarily just when and how to deploy your reserve, as well as when and how to cut away your main parachute, but this sequence of simple movements can be rehearsed for hours on the ground, then all you have to focus on is gliding to the ground, and with beginners even if you don't "flare" you can still get away uninjured. So having that experience, seeing people do this is crazy to me, I mean I want to do it, but seems like all the dangers of skydiving plus flying a plane combined almost, but unlike skydiving you have a (50+ lbs?) Engine strapped to your back. We had walkie talkies too but it was so calm and quiet up there so we could just glide in for 5 minutes and as long as we landed within a half mile of the landing area and didnt make any last second turns you'd be alright.
Thanks for this video.👍 It helped me to totally lose my Appetite for learning to fly a Paramotor! Also saved me a lot of money. Maybe I'll try cliff diving instead....!🤪
And the video of KyleO getting stuck above low level misty clouds that moved in fast - it happened in seconds - then used the phone gps to find a large field LZ!!!
The first guy was about an hour away from me. People were complaining about his flying all morning. He was dangerously low around town most of the day and eventually found himself in that predicament
@@drakemarsaly6644 i guess. I mean if you're the type of person not to see it coming , chances are you were gonna get hit by something eventually. And yeah, him hitting powerlines would suck but they'd probably fix that within a day , no? Also if he's doing it in an open area, then why is it a problem?
He was actually dangling from telephone, cable TV or fiber optic lines. They're usually the lower lines on a pole. If he was touching the powerlines, he would be toast.
Nope he wouldn't be toast because he is touching only one wire. If you don't touch 2 wires or 1 wire and a something connected to the ground, you are mostly ok.
@@niconico3907 Yeah it's why birds don't get fried. That said he'd still be high risk of a random zap killing him. It's easy for birds to avoid getting zapped because of how small they are but we are larger and much higher chance of accidently creating a path for the other wire to connect through our body. Also if any part of his rig touched the ground or a ground wire on the pole if he was near one, there could be a path for that high voltage to ground out through him which would be bad for obvious reasons. Plus a lot of the typical power lines are close enough together that his paramoter might be close enough to the other to create a path for the electricity to pass through. I'd say had he hit the high voltage wires in that situation pictured he was still high risk of getting killed.
Very informative post. I once had a trim spontaneously release itself about 6 cm. Startled me and it instantly put me into a turn. Luckily I was on a very safe glider while up nice and high. So glad it didn't happen on final approach.
I talk to alot of guys at my rc flying field and some say thats very easy to do.I said go ahead and try it, ITS NOT!! you really need to take classes and learn this sport/hobby and its very dangerous not matter how good of a pilot you are. Learn safety and take good training classes before ever doing this!! Thanks Tucker for sharing👍👍👍👍👍👍
There are a lot of people trying to do acro when they have no business doing it. Acro is something you do when you're an established, skilled paramotor/ultralight pilot, not something you try and start doing right away. And even then, I feel like Acro should be avoided anyways. Even skilled pilots screw up and get hurt or killed.
tragic. my number 1 fear is water. (which is also the number one cause of fatality for PPG) and second fear are kites. strong nylon lines are hard to see and the kite can be high above you. if you fly into a line it acts like a razer and cut your glider in half. i often fly at the beach where many people playing with kites. always keep an eyes out for them.
@@jahsunshine8891 there is a video in youtube where you can see what happens if paramotor flies into a kite line. i think the guy didnt make it out alive. his glider was cut clean in half and he hit the ground before he knew what happened. we have alot people here in china flying kites. if i see them i stay far away or dont launch at all when there are too many.
@@jeffroberts6428 oh not the lines. just the wing! and yes i thought the same as you at first. but you clearly didnt see the kites they are using here in china. 😆 we are talking something goes up 500 meter and is big enough to lift a kid up. i am trying to find the video i watch before. a trike guy flew near a beach and his wing got cut clean in half. i am not trying to make up stories. genuine terrified from kites.
@@jeffroberts6428 Manav Mewanda was 29yrs old, when a kite string took him & his tandem passenger down 200ft. He was a experienced flyer. There a few incidents involving kite strings.
Because of the way I am in Motocross and FMX. I chose not to do any Paramotoring or anything to do with flying. I don't trust myself. I have a few screws loose as my 3 kids and wife would say. I watch your videos to get my fix. Jumping 120ft is about as much air time as I'm going to get. I occasionally fly rc planes with FPV goggles and head tracking. It's pretty realistic if you run a leaf blower or a high-power fan pointing at yourself. Recently I have seen FPV pilots use airplane and car racing motion simulators connected to their Computer RC radios. Eventually, I'll get one. They are pretty inexpensive at 5k for a decent compact one.
This is what I like about your videos. You show it all. The good, the bad and the ugly. You don't just tell everybody to try it out, you won't get hurt. This is what everybody needs to know before they get into this sport. Keep up the good work and stay safe.
I enjoy the videos as much as I do your analysis. It’s a sport I gave a fleeting glance and went back to motorcycling. I consider myself pretty accomplished on motorcycles. I’ve had the opportunity to ride in several different countries in a wide variety of situations. I’ve also flown up to the point where I took the test for my license. The thrill seeker in me never quite grew up. I’m 67 years old and still looking for my next adrenaline rush, safely of course. I think I’m probably going to continue living vicariously through you. I look forward to more content and more analysis. Your videos are a pleasure to watch.
I started to hang glide and paramotor when I was 17 years old. What I learned after several years was that hang gliding and paramotoring is not worth the time or money. Too many people I trained and flew with are no longer around. The saying back then was "no frame, no brain", but even with a hang glider, which has a frame, it's safer, but not much safer. I'll never fly again.
Hang glider pilots get really sketched out by the lack of a frame, but it's really not the main source of danger. The biggest source of danger is attitude. The risks in this sport are very controllable. People die because they don't get proper training, they get complacent and take unreasonable risk, or they have ego that makes them take unreasonable risk. All technical sport require a certain degree of humility and impulse control to do safely.
Maybe fly an airplane? This video is the first time I have seen paramotors; I searched for it because a lady was talking about her trauma from an accident. I kinda wish I didn’t know crazy hobbies like this existed… peace and hugs KP
I'm surprised you didn't mention wingover guy's operating above the clouds, which was not a helpful complication for his emergency descent. Practicing at altitude is great, but being above the cloud ceiling is less than ideal for visual flying.
@@wuffa4503 is it? i know with my PPL it's legal to be above cloudline but you can't have come directly through the clouds to get there. you needed a big enough hole to come climb (2000' all sides).
@@wuffa4503 I think he still had visual of the ground. If so, it wasnt illegal. Also looks like it was at Bad Apples airfield. Probably not much airspace restriction there, but I'd have to look.
Tucker your my hero man, I’ve been working on paramotoring for a couple years now, I did training with David Nickerson from You Can Fly PPG, I used to have a Kangook with a MY22 plus dual start, but it was heavy and awkward so I just ordered one of tuckers favorites, the Parajet Maverick, it cost me most of my savings but it’s on its way and I can’t wait to fly it! Thank you for being an inspiration Tucker and god bless all pilots and keep us safe!
I really appreciate you bringing these videos to us. I learn a little each time and hopefully, if I'm ever in a compromising situation, what I learn here will save my bacon.
Great video as always, @tuckergott ! Thank you for sharing these accidents in a respectful manner! Great lessons to be learned here! 🪂🪂 A comment about the pilot with asymmetric trims that spiralled down, I've had a problem once in which my trim tabs were worn and would slip down in high-G manoeuvres and I found myself almost locked in a spiral once because of that. So pilots, if you have worn trims, make sure to get them replaced! Safe flying everyone!
Thanks for the upload. Your chill and informational approach makes these learning moments easy to take in. People should never stop learning and progressing. Condolences to all affected by the fatals.
Uncensored fatal crash videos is the best way to either scare people away from something or scare them into being far safer. Let's go uncensored fatal crashes!
Seems like a trike setup would benefit from having larger radius wheels, like bicycle wheels, for launching from a lumpy field or so. Might hinder aerodynamics more than small wheels though.
You missed an opportunity to tell people there IS a way to avoid blacking out from G-forces. Ever see those videos with astronauts going around that centrifuge in the capsule? They teach them to breathe in through your nose really fast, deep breaths. Same thing with pilots. I've also experienced this personally having come close to passing out before. I did this breathing technique and it works. I've since done it half a dozen times when I get lightheaded.
Fellas, a Gin Carve 18 is not your next wing....it's not even your next next wing. Take it from me. I've been flying since 2018. 100hrs on Ozone Mojo Pwr 26 before moving to a 25 Gin Calypso for additional 135hrs, before moving to a 23 ITV Daytona. Did SIV on the Calypso before going smaller. I recommend everyone take this slow methodical steady progression. Do not buy a wing that is beyond your skill set. You will just end up dead from the speed or you will be scared to fly the thing and never push yourself on it. I have a friend who went GIN carve for his second wing. He won't fly inland, beach only. He won't do wing overs. He won't fly turbulence. He's barely even a pilot anymore.
A friend of mine started the training… got quite and then just stopped. He knew he wouldn’t be safe so he stepped back before he hurt himself. Thanks for sharing your insights for those who fly and best wishes to the families of those who lost their lives.
First picture is not _quite_ as bad as it looks, because the dude is actually hanging off the low-voltage cable TV and phone wiring (halfway up the pole) not the higher voltage power lines at the top. Still bad, but at least it's not immediately dangerous as long as he gets down to the ground safely.
Blacking out. There are several stages to pulling G. Firstly you start to get tunnel vision. The outside of your vision starts to darken. I would say, this is the time to stop. Maintaining that G for a few more seconds will turn into tunnel vision. You can only see the centre of your vision. Again, a few more seconds at this G loading and you black out. You are still mostly consious, but your vision has totally gone. Then after that you get G LOC, Loss Of Conscious. This is the real danger point. If the G loading is reduced it can take 15 to 30 seconds to come around and be able to take control. Notice that all of this can occur at the same G loading.
Also, that guy was too low to start any run. 2k is minimum safe alt for acro practice. Then and only when you have 100's of hours pulling stunts at 2k and you know you won't black out.....do you ever start runs at low alt. And a low alt run starts at 1k min and is completed before 500ft agl. You do not push below 500ft hard deck. Period.
@@murdockdacoon2055if you black out during a spiral, it doesn't matter how high you started, most wing will keep spiralling to the ground. But I agree, if you don't black out, being high will give you more time to fix the flying issue.
@@niconico3907 not sure what most wings you fly. But all the wings I fly trims down doing acro, if I let go hands up they immediately begin to self recover to auto level and dampen out oscillation.....not accel into a deeper spiral. It's called positive dynamic stability. Maybe you should start acro on a safer wing? A beginner wing maybe?
@@murdockdacoon2055 so why didn't this one recover by itself? I know they are supposed to exit by themselves, but I know too many people who blacked out and spiralled to the ground, on all kind of wings.
@@niconico3907 entered acro run below 500ft. Too low. If you get stupid too low, this is the result. Had he been practicing at 2k like I recommend, it would have recovered on it's own. Research the story of Ewa Wiśnierska who should be dead by all rights but her glider saved her.......and it was not a beginner glider. She was in competition on an advanced wing built for max efficiency which are also known to be very unforgiving if not actively flown.
6:10 I think you explanation is incomplete. There is obviously a fairly hard wind coming in, with how slow they are going, then without gaining enough speed they started harshly turning using a lot a brake on one side like you said, which caused the wind to bend the wing as less air passed over it making it less firm as the airspeed suddenly plummeted with the changing direction of the trike. Then from there, like mentioned, the high power setting just made the spin worse as they fell
Damn, how often does this happen?! I was thinking about taking this up but I don't know now! I have a private pilot certificate and was thinking Paramotoring would be a cheaper way to fly and to be in the sky but after this I don't know!!!😳😲😬
First mistake: strapping a desk fan to your back. Second mistake: trying to fly with that contraption. Third mistake: not having a Legal Will. Darwin Award is in the mail.
How to avoid being killed? Don't do stupid. Most accidents I witnessed were preceded by a "Hey Guys! Watch This!" Just don't be that guy who say it, but the guy who film it.
So barring a catastrophic failure of your wing (Highly unlikely and you have a reserve) If you fly conservatively, in good weather and don't do anything stupid, this is a very safe sport, correct? I have no interest in climbing to 10k feet, doing stunts or running a high performance wing. I want to putt around above the cornfields where I live and watch the sun set.
This is really good stuff. You cover the incidents respectfully and with a view to promoting the safety of paramotoring. I think you would really enjoy the "mentor Pilot" channel as is covers many aviation incidents in great detail and this might be of great interest to you. I don't work for the channel or have any connections to it other than I watch it regularly to enhance my own processes of risk management. Spoiler alert, it is extremely rare for an incident to be entirely down to the actions of 1 individual and, from my experience, that extends way beyond the aviation world that we all know and love!
6 : 40 - Edit : he meant to say ' these next 3 accidents ' ...not " incidents ". These are not planned collisions as a Football player might have a playbook for, where a referee has a whistle to blow the play dead. Football players are geared for ( incidental accidents ), paragliding is not.
Just because Paragliders aren't regulated as aircraft doesn't mean you don't have to OBEY rules . Above the clouds and not cleared to be there by controllers means you can become bug splatter on a big Jets windscreen. At 10000 ft you may be in controlled airspace where Jets can be traveling at 500 knots . They would never see you .
Every flying device has a "window" of conditions in which it can operate safely. A paraglider is a derivative of the parachute, a device designed as an emergency decent device. It was not designed for flying. A wing designed for flying must remain aerodynamically functional in a wide range of meteorological conditions, e.g., during times of strong vertical windshear especially if that windshear occurs close to the ground during takeoffs and landings. This is one example of many conditions in which a paraglider was not designed to deal with. The window of conditions suitable for safe paraglider flight is the smallest I know of. Once a pilot flies his/her device outside of the 'window', the likelihood of an accident increases. The main problem with paragliders is that they are regularly operated well outside their design capabilities = elevated accident rate. Respect your wings design limit and you reduce the chance of being an ugly headline.
The good thing about paramotoring is it’s the easiest, motorized flight ever. The bad thing about paramotoring is it’s the easiest, motorized flight ever.
I would only do this if there was some big type of bubble cushion thing that if I stalled and slammed into the ground it would cushion me. Like those big bubbles that you can get in and bounce off of each other. Know what I'm talking about? Kinda like a gerbil in a ball thing but made of plastic and inflated. Yes, I know it would have to be really big to protect you.
Dont understand why ppl try to do tricks whille in air. At best, you look marginally cool for ppl who will barely remember you, and at worst, youll end up on the last 5min of Tucker's crash video.
What I get from this is that someone who engages in this sports requires a high level of experience and skill to perform flight maneuvers and deal with emergencies. Unfortunately, the only way to gain the requisite experience is to go up and fly, and hope you survive.
This is not the sport for me. Anyone with common sense can see that this is a very dangerous sport on some type of steampunk contraption. I can try another extreme sport. And what’s crazy is I see more reckless paramotorers than other less dangerous sports. People upload all the time and have popular channels and they fly over water, and even low over water, with no floating gear, they just set bad examples. It makes me feel like this particular sport is just inherently reckless, compared to others in the same classification.
Do what you love. Life is short, if you die, you die on your terms. All these people saying this is silly because it is so dangerous, they will die in a old folks home alone after they've suffered for 3 years in bed only wishing they were dead... Don't be that dude.... Fly and Fly again. Cheers.
I don't buy the explanation for the spinning wing with the skis. This looks like some weird atmospheric issue... or maybe he flew through some massive prop-wash. Something wind/air related pushed his right wingtip violently around and spun the glider. I feel like this was mostly out of his control, except for perhaps a lack of situational awareness. I'm an intermediate pilot and I'll tell you that the worst "air" I've experienced has been when I'm doing powered 360s over the airfield, perhaps waiting for a buddy, at a static altitude... and I forget about the existence of my own prop-wash. And then BAM, it hits me.
Thanks for this video. I couldn’t watch the whole thing…way too unnerving. Don’t know why people want to risk injury or death. The risk reward ratio steers me to other safer pursuits.
I get discouraged of paramotors after watching these accidents, but they all seem to be due pilot negligence. I wonder if is actually safe for competent pilot like Tucker himself.
Just can't understand why he doesn't show the fatalities. Anybody knows if you put an airplane engine on your back and try to fly around in a parachute you going to f****** die. I would even go as far to say that you want to die😮
No matter what craft you want to fly do yourself and your family a favor get the proper training , You will most likely crash and maybe worse off your self if you dont , Had a friend years ago that did just that in a borrowed ultralight , Told his neighbor he could fly it then stalled the right wing and crashed in a corn field , Trashed the plane killed his ego and broke a leg !
Bet non of these guys can paraglide. Wing control is everthing . If you cant control the wing on the ground and without a motor then you should not be paramotoring. Suprise acro causes accidents!? Again bet no one has done an siv course? Its too easy to get into paramotoring, it makes you feel confident quickly and start trying advanced manovers and low flying . This is an adventure sport . You will have an engine out, you will have a wing collapse and you will need altitude to save your ass . Fly high, get a tame wing and enjoy flying! And dont copy youtube heros
I find these paramotor wanna be adventurer very annoying. It's a very selfish hobby, creating a lot of noise to others just for your own pleasure. Real paragliders that just use the elements of natures are the real adventurers.
Been watching you for years now, Tucker. I think these videos are really great, your audience needs to know the risks getting into this hobby. For me, I have realized that there are too many unforgiving nuances that can kill you. I have concluded that I no longer wish to get into this sport, but I will still enjoy watching others enjoying this hobby. I hope others equally weigh the risks, their tolerances, etc. and arrive at their own conclusions.
