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Onad
Since 04 Mar 2005
1435 Posts
Coast<<PDX>>Gorge
XTreme Poster
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 Thu Nov 10, 05 1:08 pm Chilling accident report from Washington! |
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In case you missed this please read post about serious kite accident in Washington. It's winter weather time so watch those rains squalls and if in doubt, dont go out.
 http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2321889 |
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pkh
Since 27 Feb 2005
6548 Posts
Couve / Hood
Site Lackey
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| Thu Nov 10, 05 1:20 pm |
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Here's the full report, much more info too at the Seattle NWKite Group:
| Quote: | Rob's Accident at West Point
Date: 11.04.2005
Time: 11am-12pm approximately
THE FIRST HALF
Witness:
Beach: West Point, WA
Beach Condition:
At high tide there is very little or no beach, launching area is
tall grass strewn with large drift wood. Parallel to the water
about 100 to 150 feet from the water's edge is a row of trees and
shrubs.
Wind Condition:
Wind is gusty and has holes. At pump up stage wind is strong 14m
conditions. Rain squalls can be seen in the distance. Doug
launches from the small strip of beach, takes two or three tacks and
the wind begins to spike. By the time Rob launches, the wind has
spiked rapidly and is now more like strong 9m conditions.
Self launch was perfect and in control.
10sec: Rob has control of his kite it hovers above the
ground, rises to 3o'clock and then to 12o'clock.
10-20sec: Wind spikes, Rob begins a semi controlled drag
inland from the beach.
20-30sec: Rob gains control of the kite, and begins going
back toward the waters edge.
30-50sec: Gust hits the kite again Rob loses footing is
slightly elevated or lofted and an out of control drag inland
begins. He is drug through the log infested tall grass, across a
concrete foot path, through more tall grass, and is then flung into
a birch style tree that is about 15 feet tall. Rob is now stuck in
the birch tree his feet are 4 to 7 feet from the base of the tree.
50-55sec: Kite is still at 12o'clock. Lofting appears to
have ceased and Rob is either motionless or looking down trying to
find his safety still in the tree.
SECOND HALF
Witness:
Stuck in the Tree
55-58sec: Gusts begin to hit the kite, Rob is lifted higher
in the tree.
58-62sec: As Rob is lifted higher in the tree we think a
branch catches one side of his control bar causing the kite to dive
downward tomahawking from 12o'clock.
62-1min10sec: As the kite dives the gusts reach their peak
speed and in combination with the apparent wind Rob is ripped up,
out, and down from the tree at a 45 degree angle towards the road.
He cleares the road and comes in direct contact with the top corner
of a 3 foot tall by about 8 inch thick concrete retaining wall. His
harness and kite were literally torn off of his body at impact, flew
over the bushes, trees, and second retaining wall of the sewage
treatment plant. Rob is propelled about 10 feet away from the point
of impact and lay upside down motionless half on the side walk half
in the parking lot. For the first 30 seconds after the collision Rob
struggles to breathe, unconscious, his left leg is twisted at a 90
degree angle as if he had two knees. |
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Kataku2k3
Since 14 Aug 2005
3753 Posts
Los Angeles, CA
Videographer
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| Thu Nov 10, 05 1:54 pm |
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| Damn, hadn't heard about this. Hope he's okay. The squalls on the coast were making for some pretty sketch conditions last week... scary! |
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J.P.
Since 10 Mar 2005
638 Posts
Addicted
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| Thu Nov 10, 05 3:21 pm |
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| Kataku2k3 wrote: | | Damn, hadn't heard about this. Hope he's okay. The squalls on the coast were making for some pretty sketch conditions last week... scary! |
Rob suffered a compounded fracture to his left femur. I was one of 3 people on the beach that witnessed the event.
In my eyes, he's EXTREMELY lucky his gray matter was not spread out over the wall & sidewalk.
I can not begin to explain the force at which he hit the wall but you can do the math, how much force will a 14m generate when it's kite looped in 9m conditions?
cheers,
John |
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