June 20 around 330pm outa towner IPPI advanced rated PG launched regionals, noted by others to be rushing to get in the air. Noted in the air by B Richey “Something wrong with this guys glider”, erratically flying, ~a minute later enters parachutal spin, LZ spectators shouting chuck it! Of course the pilot cant hear and heed. No chute as pilot plummets straight down from abt 1500 agl. I’m thinking he’s gonna splat when at 100 or less agl the thing reinflates and disappears behind the eucalyptus treeline behind the house at the mouth of Sweetwater Cyn.

Come to find out, pilot was in such a hurry to launch, forgot a leg loop which somehow put the chute handle out of reach, not to mention not noticing a line over at initial inflation.

This could have easily put this guy out of flying for months to forever, or as far as “in the grave” for want of getting in the air quickly.  I admit, the rush to get going has happened to me and likely everyone, for that matter with varying outcomes as you can imagine.  What’s the take home message here?  At launch, Stop. Calm yourself for a moment, tame that prelaunch anxiety. Checklist. Preflight? Conditions right? Harness right? Glider right? Pilot right?  After a unanimous “yes”, get to work by getting away from the hill and surrounded by air. Then begin what Steve Corbin always called “the best flight of my life!”  and make it home for dinner.