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Incident Details
General Information
Title: Dust Devil Encounter
Date: 03/28/2010
Time: 1730
Location: "Grasslands" Los Lunas, New Mexico
Pilot Information
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Pilot weight (without motor): 220 US Pounds
Rating:
Intermediate (PPG2 or Equivalent)
Experience:
50+ Hours Solo
Incident Detail Information
Type of Incident:
Wing Malfunction or Deflation
Primary Cause:
Weather (Gust, Thermal, Rain, Wind increase, etc)
Contributing Distractions:
None
Windspeed:
Light (Less than 5 MPH)
Wind Type:
Variable
Thermal Conditions:
Unknown
Visibility: Clear and Sunny
Surface:
Dirt or Small Rocks
Terrain:
Flat
Site Elevation: 5100 (feet above sea level)
Phase of Flight:
Cruise
Purpose of Flight:
Recreation
Safety Gear Used:
None
Helmet Full
Helmet Other
Protective Boots
Knee-pads
Elbow-pads
Wrist Guards
Reserve
Knife
Gloves
Strobe
Unknown
Communications:
None
Damage to Pilot's Equipment:
Unknown
Wing: 2005 Edel Power Atlas Size Large
Motor: Fresh Breeze Monster, half tank of fuel.
Injury Information
Pilot/Passenger Injury Severity:
Major Injury
Hosipitalization:
Overnight
Injuries:
None
Head
Face
Neck
Chest
Back
Abdomen
Shoulder
Arm
Elbow
Forearm
Wrist
Hand
Pelvis
Thigh
Calf
Ankle
Foot
Knee
Unknown
Collateral Damage:
None
By-Stander
Other Pilot
Animal
Property
Unknown
Narrative: A friend and I were flying around 4:30pm for about 10 minutes when we decided to land and wait for the air to get a little more calm. The winds weren't gusting, but changing dirctions often. As 530pm came, the winds seemed to stabilize from the south at a light 3-5mph, light enough a forward launch was needed.
I launched and was making large circles around the field checking the conditions, when I started playing with a soccer ball that had entertained our company and my son who were out watching us fly. I tried a couple times to pick the ball up, but was unseccessful. On my last attempt I powered up and climbed to about 25 feet heading straight into the wind according to the windsock we had placed.
Just as I was about to make a right hand turn and return towards the field, something caught my attention moving on the ground, a tumbleweed doing circles on the ground moving from my right to left. It was reported to me afterwards that my wing suffered a collapse where the wing tips nearly touched, and while going down my right side was starting to re-inflate, which caused my left side of my body to impact ground first. I hit hard, and rolled to try and absorb some of the impact to the left. Laying me out on the ground laying on my left side, i tried to adjust so I could unhook from my motor, when I noticed my left foot was not moving with my left knee.
My friend came to my rescue within moments and had 911 already on the phone, which proved very needed.
My friend took care of all my gear bringing it back to his house, while I was transported by Ambulance to UNMH ER.
Sunday evening I went into the ER, where they reset my bones, those drugs were cool. Moved to a room, I was scheduled for surgery hopefully Monday...but could wait till Wednesday.
Monday morning I was whisked to the OR when they had an opening (Dont want to know why they had an opening) where I was knocked out for over a 2 1/2 hour surgery...and woke up later to have:
3 staples just below my knee
1 nail going down through my entire tibula
4 screws above my ankle holding screw in place
wire or staples holing some foot bones in place.
and numerous bottles of pain killers, stool softeners and blood clot preventers to take for a while. Joy.
In the end there are many things I am very thankful for. Friends who both helped me out on the ground, with the care of my son, equipment, and got 911 coming quick.
Friends who came to visit in the hospital and at my place.
It is not known if the 25 ft fall/impact is what broke my bones, or if it was the falling and impact of my cage to the back of my legs that broke the bones.
Altitude and good weather conditions is very important.
Flying with someone in the event of an emergency who can call for help is also wise, as before this I usually would fly alone.
More x-ray pictures to follow once I get them.
Photo:
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