Off field retrieve accident

[Ron Gleason]

Saturday June 27th saw great soaring conditions around the Nephi Utah area. While many folks were racking up the miles we had one glider land in field near the Moroni UT with no issues.. A group of volunteers were mustered to assist with the retrieve as the glider was a large heavy 2 seater.

While getting the glider ready to put in the glider a thunderstorm developed and a subsequent gust crossed the field and hit the glider, trailer and retrieve crew.

The gusty winds created zero visibility, picked up the trailer, turned it up side down and slammed backed to the ground even though it was still attached to the retrieve vehicle. Charlie Ryan from Austin Texas got hit by the trailer and suffered major trauma to his head and one knee.

He was transported to the local hospital via ambulance and subsequently air lifted to a trauma center in Provo UT. The major concern has bleeding on the brain. As of Sunday afternoon the bleeding has stopped and optimism has been expressed by the medical staff.

Charlie's wife Jan is now in Utah with Charlie and asked that this information be posted so that all of Charlie's friend are aware of the situation.

We will provide updates as we get additional information.

Please keep Charlie in your thoughts

Ron Gleason
Bruno Vassel

[[email protected]]

Here is a link to a similar incident that occurred at IYK last year, luckily with no injuries to anyone and just a damaged trailer. Please be careful when rigging and derigging, especially out here in the Western US.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/schempp-hirth-arcus/Ki5jT1vqX_E

[JJ Sinclair[_2_]]

We had a Cobra up for salvage bid a couple of months back. In gusty/shifting winds your trailer becomes a 2-wheel boat with sail up!
JJ

[WAVEGURU]

On one of our Alvord Desert Safaris, we had a micro-burst roll a trailer about a quarter mile one time. We were almost calm where we were standing as we watched the trailer roll and roll, then shed it's axles and roll and roll some more. One guy was sheltered behind it when it went over. He was untouched... It also balled up an L-13.

Boggs

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

On Monday, June 29, 2015 at 1:07:13 AM UTC-4, Ron Gleason wrote:
> Saturday June 27th saw great soaring conditions around the Nephi Utah area. While many folks were racking up the miles we had one glider land in field near the Moroni UT with no issues.. A group of volunteers were mustered to assist with the retrieve as the glider was a large heavy 2 seater.
>
> While getting the glider ready to put in the glider a thunderstorm developed and a subsequent gust crossed the field and hit the glider, trailer and retrieve crew.
>
> The gusty winds created zero visibility, picked up the trailer, turned it up side down and slammed backed to the ground even though it was still attached to the retrieve vehicle. Charlie Ryan from Austin Texas got hit by the trailer and suffered major trauma to his head and one knee.
>
> He was transported to the local hospital via ambulance and subsequently air lifted to a trauma center in Provo UT. The major concern has bleeding on the brain. As of Sunday afternoon the bleeding has stopped and optimism has been expressed by the medical staff.
>
> Charlie's wife Jan is now in Utah with Charlie and asked that this information be posted so that all of Charlie's friend are aware of the situation.
>
> We will provide updates as we get additional information.
>
> Please keep Charlie in your thoughts
>
> Ron Gleason
> Bruno Vassel

Best wishes to Charlie (not because of my nickname.....). hope all is well. I've also been in the, "De-rig quick, a storm is coming....." position. Amazing what a few peeps can do in a short time if they have de-rigged that glider in that trailer. Quite a reduction of talking, lots of "moving bits around" in short order.......

[Ron Gleason]

On Monday, 29 June 2015 14:07:20 UTC-6, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> On Monday, June 29, 2015 at 1:07:13 AM UTC-4, Ron Gleason wrote:
> > Saturday June 27th saw great soaring conditions around the Nephi Utah area. While many folks were racking up the miles we had one glider land in field near the Moroni UT with no issues.. A group of volunteers were mustered to assist with the retrieve as the glider was a large heavy 2 seater.
> >
> > While getting the glider ready to put in the glider a thunderstorm developed and a subsequent gust crossed the field and hit the glider, trailer and retrieve crew.
> >
> > The gusty winds created zero visibility, picked up the trailer, turned it up side down and slammed backed to the ground even though it was still attached to the retrieve vehicle. Charlie Ryan from Austin Texas got hit by the trailer and suffered major trauma to his head and one knee.
> >
> > He was transported to the local hospital via ambulance and subsequently air lifted to a trauma center in Provo UT. The major concern has bleeding on the brain. As of Sunday afternoon the bleeding has stopped and optimism has been expressed by the medical staff.
> >
> > Charlie's wife Jan is now in Utah with Charlie and asked that this information be posted so that all of Charlie's friend are aware of the situation.

[[email protected]]

Thank you everyone for all your kindnesses.

Charlie had an appointment with a highly recommended orthopedic surgeon yesterday. The doctor was clearly amazed at the work done by the surgeon in Provo, however he said he is not the man for the job and made an appointment with a trauma specialist for Charlie to see tomorrow.