Incident Report postings from John Fletcher's injury at The Grade (in order of posting time stamp)
[news paper article] [Bob Peloquin] [Chip Bartley] [John Fletcher]

Posting about John Fletcher's injury at The Grade
by Bob Peloquin
posted on Wednesday 7/26/06

My son called me about 5:30 and told me about the air rescue at the Grade.  I got there about fifteen minutes later, the S.O. had cleared the scene.  There was a lone pilot at the third launch and two vehs parked at the LZ.  I didn't recognize the pilot or the vehicless.  The S.O. chopper returned and extracted the pilot from the launch to the LZ.  I spoke with the pilot (Chip) in the LZ and to the best of my recollection this is what he told me.

Chip is a fairly new P2 and he had just met up with John Fletcher, a very new P2, at Elings.  Both pilots are from the Somis area and opted to try the grade.  Chip said conditions at launch were good, Camarillo Airport was showing 230-240 8-12.  John set up first.  Chip was not sure what happened, as he was setting up his wing, but he was alerted to John's wing coming overhead.  John turned to launch and was immediately in a full riser twist (the wing had not spun).  John was spun hard to his left and the glider also turned left.  The pilot collided with the steep rocky hillside approximately 80 yards below launch.  Chip climbed down to John, who was conscious, but in extreme pain.  Chip provided emergency first aid, obvious broken legs, broken arm and head injury.  Ventura S.O. responded to Chip's 911 call and John was air rescued to Los Robles Hospital.

And to make things more difficult, while clearing John's wing for the chopper to move in, Chip had to knock a rattlesnake out of the way with a stick.

Thanks to Chip for a job well done!

I spoke with John's wife Carol last night and John was scheduled for surgery later in the evening.  As I understand it, John's injuries included a broken pelvis, broken legs and a broken arm.  To top this off Carol is going in for back surgery this morning.  John was a student at FAA, but I don't think I had met him.  Our thoughts and prayers are with John and his family.

Posted Saturday 7/29/06

I had the opportunity to talk with Chip again today.  It's been several days since the accident and he was able to clarify some important details for me.  He had also visited John in the hospital and he added some information.  First of all John set up for a reverse inflation for a right turn.  He pulled the wing up, turned to his left and launched.  His risers were completely twisted (John stated, I turned the wrong way).  The pilot was several feet into the air when the risers untwisted, causing the pilot to spin to his right.  The wing continued to fly fairly straight away from launch.  John lost his right brake from his right hand and retained his left brake in his left.  Momentarily the pilot and wing flew straight, but then turned to the left, probably due to a hard application of the left brake.  The pilot let up on the brake, the wing dove forward and down.  John collided with a large rock as he pendulumed under his wing.

I'm sure more details will come to light with time, but to me several key issues are apparent:

1. The Grade is an unforgiving site that leaves very little room for error and yet there are no agreed rating or site requirements.
2. This pilot is a very new P2.
3. The pilot had flown this site before and got a site intro from an extremely experienced pilot.
4. The pilot turned the wrong direction at launch, pilot error.

I don't know any pilot who hasn't bitten off more than they could chew at one time or another, that's part of learning and growing.  John is paying dearly for his mistake and I hope he fully recovers.  Chip has also been deeply impacted by this and could use all the support we can give him.  I know that I'm trying learn as much as I can about this event, so that I can be a better instructor and member of our community.  It's good that this sad occurrence has inspired so much input.

Goodnight and Good Flying!