A former glider instructor was wearing a working parachute when he fell to his death during a gliding competition last year near Diamond Valley.
The accident occurred on May 29, 2024, during a soaring competition based from the Cu Nim Aerodrome west of Okotoks.
On the day of the crash, gliding conditions were poor, and some pilots were landing after flying for less than 20 minutes, said a report from the Transportation Safety Board that was released on Jan. 7.
The report said the glider that crashed stalled while turning and began to spin before the pilot bailed out. The pilot, who was wearing a parachute, was fatally injured in the fall. Witnesses didn’t see the parachute open.
The report said the parachute was over its recommended service life of 20 years but was in working order when the pilot bailed out.
Using a parachute is risky, even more so when done from an aircraft during an emergency, and stress can impact an individual's ability to respond, the report said.
The report said the pilot had practised glider egress only while stationary on the ground and had no reported skydiving experience.
No issues were found with the glider, but it was substantially damaged in the crash.
