Deceased
Bernhard Zwahlen
Demographics
49y, male
Date of death
2005-09-15
Finding date
2008-02-27
Cause of death
Head injury due to hang gliding accident (pilot)
AI-generated summary
A 49-year-old experienced hang glider pilot died from head injuries sustained in a crash at Hughenden Airport. During a static ground tow, the aircraft failed to separate from the tow line due to a snap link catching the bridle's loose weave. The pilot attempted release by pulling a V.G. cord, but this became entangled with the snagged tow line. Unable to separate, the aircraft spiralled downward into trees. The pilot did not deploy his parachute or use a knife to cut free—he was not carrying an accessible hook knife as recommended. Contributing factors included non-standard equipment modifications, use of snap links instead of screw-gate rings, and failure to carry mandatory safety equipment. The coroner recommended mandatory screw-gate rings and accessible knife carriage.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
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