Investigating Anthony Vella's NEAR FATAL Paramotor Crash!

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Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
1:59 What Happened?
11:47 Interview With Anthony
23:37 Flying The Luna 3

[@AnthonyVella]

Thank you for spending the day with my family and I. You’re a great human being.

[@GamerTag700]

bro is every where

[@dapimp6916]

​@@GamerTag700 bro what

[@flyingdanwitha29sedan]

That was a good interview. I hope to see you fly again man! I hope you heal up quickly and are always in good spirits!

[@Youn6J]

Glad you’re alright man

[@chrispbacon550]

Wishing you Anthony the quickest of recoveries. I feel like giving people the opportunity to watch, discuss, dissect, and breakdown every frame of that video, helps us learn not only what not to do but what to do. We’ll all hopefully learn something. Grateful. Thank you.

[@NoobNoob1986]

Bro. That looked deadly. Glad his kids still have their dad.

[@6989uwu]

Yeah he still wants to do it after he recovers which is wild

[@zaqwsxcde54321]

Not for long, since he has already announced he will go back flying

[@GaijinGamerGirl]

Motor definitely cushioned the fall

[@10191927]

One of the most horrific crashes caught on camera, it was genuinely terrifying, he was damn lucky.

[@xdzombiezz4163]

@@6989uwu hes not gonna thankfully

[@rule1dontgosplat]

My helicopter instructor had this on the wall of the hangar: “Whenever we talk about a pilot who has been killed in a flying accident, we should all keep one thing in mind. He called upon the sum of all his knowledge and made a judgment. He believed in it so strongly that he knowingly bet his life on it. That his judgment was faulty is a tragedy, not stupidity. Every instructor, supervisor, and contemporary who ever spoke to him had an opportunity to influence his judgment, so a little bit of all of us goes with every pilot we lose.“ I think examining accident videos is always important, as that goes directly towards influencing judgement. I experienced an engine out on my fourth flight ever, and thanks to many people talking about engine outs being a constant threat, I was surprised but prepared. Thank you @anthonyvella and @tuckergott for sharing this and helping us all understand it.

[@someguyontheinternet7165]

I haven’t been in aviation long enough to have lost anyone, but man that hits heavy.

[@rule1dontgosplat]

@@someguyontheinternet7165Ironically my helicopter instructor was killed in a helicopter crash about six months after I quit taking lessons. Someone had bought an old Bell H-13 (the helicopter they used on the MASH TV show). They were testing it doing max performance takeoffs and they hit a pine tree, flipped over, crashed, and burned up. It was very rough to hear about. I’ve read the entire FAA report.

[@CrispyJacketStudios]

Wise words 🤙

[@richardkunkle9924]

Well said.

[@alexsakon]

You see so many paramotor crashes as compared to paraglider crashes because paramptor attracts a different crowd. It's similar to base jumping speed flying crowd and my personal observation is that they tend to be younger and somewhat less mature crowd comlard to PG/HG crowd IMHO.

[@scubadoo7951]

Demonstrating the safety of a glider that’s made by a competitor of the company that you’re a dealer for, in order to soften the impact the ppg community has taken from the crash video, is a high-principled move.

[@TuckerGott]

Thanks!

[@IIlIIllII]

Just the comment I was looking for.

[@mikes6216]

Since the wing tested was not the one in the crash, did you wonder what Tucker would find if he tested the sus wing? Did you wonder why there was no mention of the upper cascade of lines which were unsheathed on that glider, and if that increased friction causes more tangles/friction knots? Tucker said all the nicest things about BGD but for a technical breakdown I think some facts were danced around, and no explanation why the actual wing was not used.... If it is a video to compliment BGD that is fine but how about disclosing if that is the case?

[@TuckerGott]

@@mikes6216 There was an explanation for why the actual glider wasn't used. It was sent in for inspection and was not available. Unsheathed uppers is not something new or sus. Plenty of gliders use unsheathed uppers with no significant issues.

[@mikes6216]

@@TuckerGott Thanks for explaining, I have no experience with unsheathed lines. So you dont think the unsheathed lines which were too small to see had any responsibility for the friction knot which was not seen? If you say no, then I trust you and will get that idea out of my head.

[@MeganFoxx426]

I'm paraglider pilot, not a paramotor pilot, but I still feel a kinship with you paramotor pilots, and I just wanted to say, that I'm glad that Anthony is alive, and I hope he flies again. Also I donated to his go fund me, to show my support for his recovery. Which I hope will be a speedy one. And as another aviation youtuber 74Gear | Pilot Kelsey would say... "Keep the blue side up".

[@FreshTillDeath56]

That is very kind of you

[@theampedlife]

I mangled my leg in a paragliding accident, at 34, then had it amputated due to the extensive damage. I was pushing the limits with an APCO completion glider, flying beyond my and the gliders limitations. At the time I had two small kids, now 3, and realised how close they came to being single parent children, with the third never entering this world had I not survived an incredible scary accident. I am extremely grateful to be here, alive to see them grow up and thrive. This video took me right back to the accident day. I'm super happy for Anthony that he survived, and came off quite lightly, considering the situation. An accident like this gave me an immense appreciation for life. Good things can come from really bad experiences. I wish you all the best mate, thanks for sharing your story. I hope it helps heighten awareness of what pushing the limits can lead to, and so benefit other pilots. Safe flying guys, know your limitations. Just enjoy the moment and land a happy, whole person.

[@seanmccloskey7873]

Should've given you an immense appreciation for common sense as well.

[@eltooyo2]

Kudos, Tucker, for putting your money where your mouth is and bothering to dig deep enough to bring us the whole story. Not just educational but an amazing, engrossing, impeccably thorough piece of journalism. I couldn't take my eyes off it. All good thoughts to Anthony and his family!

[@TuckerGott]

Thanks so much. I’ve been really interested in the longer format investigative journalism style lately.

[@samjenkins9224]

Even without a pressure knot, a collapse can also occur due to low level turbulence or thermals. Flying at trim speed it would probably have been a non-event. Respect to Anthony for being so open and honest about the mistakes he made. It's a really brave thing to put it all out there. I hope the community learns from this, and we never see an accident like this again. Get well soon Anthony. I hope we see you flying again soon!

[@LarsLarsen77]

THIS is why I will never fly on anything bigger than a speedwing. You need perfectly laminar air or you die at low altitude, and low altitude is exactly where you find turbulence from ground features.

[@elpanchosancho2]

Nah you don't know what you're talking about!

[@adventure_hannah3841]

I'm a survivor of a near-death rockclimbing accident (20ft fall, landed on face and arm. Similar arm injury, less severe neck and back injury, more severe facial injury and a traumatic brain injury.) But how he talks about his mentality, his thoughts, thinking over mistakes, worrying about other people in his life. Nearly exactly the same. It's kind of eeri and kind of calming. Thank you Tucker for this interview.

[@shinraninja]

How did you fall 20ft? Free solo?

[@mikesmith7497]

Did you heal up 100 percent?

[@automan1223]

My old man warned me when I started flying my gyro "anytime your ass is higher than your elbow it's a dangerous situation". I am never going to say someone should not do something but if you have children save the aerobatics, speed runs, adrealine pumps for the other guys.

[@janb1033]

exactly my thoughts. what a fool. the problem is not questioning that risk as a whole

[@Haderach-b4r]

I was sitting here smh when i found out he had a family at home. I mean thats not to say dont have fun in life and do things but if you got kids to think about... come on man.

[@trevdestroyer8209]

​@@Haderach-b4rone of the arguments against having kids you are trapped

[@George-li1yv]

​@@Haderach-b4r The world does not stop just cause you have kids.

[@urbanpalpitation]

unfortunately I had a similar accident weeks before this one. I was training for the endurance world championship and I was also going full speed, the difference is that I was 180m high and had a reserve. despite having time to launch the reserve was in sat and my reserve was stuck in the wing. Which resulted in a violent fall and I broke many bones while still in the hospital. From my experience I still think that flying without a reserv is suicidal.

[@cabanford]

Speedy recovery ❤

[@DrAElemayo]

Autorotations freak me out

[@LukeSchneider]

@@DrAElemayo I trained autorotation on a normal PG. If you're high enough, it's no problem to stabilize and fly straight with the collapse/cravat.

[@davidsmith5766]

I canceled my class after watching this crash back in April thanks for giving us some confidence back into the sport

[@UnimportantAcc]

I think the lesson is if you're trying to go fast, do it high with a reserve chute. Or do it low enough that falling doesn't break any bones? 🤣

[@LEELUNK-IS-A-HUNK]

GOOD, HUMANS AREN'T BIRDS

[@wrennocturn6290]

​@@LEELUNK-IS-A-HUNK BUT WE WANNA BE BIRDS!

[@FragCool]

Paraglider Pilot here with two points: I'm really astounded by how many paramoter crash videos are out there, where the pilot tries a trick super low, when you can gain height by just pressing a little switch. And as a paraglider pilot you learn that if you have a situation like in this video and you are below 100m... just throw the reserve. You have no chance to fix it, and modern reservers are opening super fast (if you don't throw it into the canopy) So not flying with one is just stupid

[@any1alive]

yep, theres a 50/50 whether it opens or doesnt, even if it doesnt open it will have added drag n slowed you down, theres no reason not to have one withte weight

[@saleplains]

yeah im an HG pilot (i dont hate PGs to be clear) i think the ram air wings are fine but with any craft you need to be aware of the limitations and exercise judgement. Fundamentally, ram air wings remain inflated by maintaining some minimum AoA combined with keeping tension on the lines. Speeding up requires decreasing AoA so max speed frequently means pushing right up to the edge of stability. Doing this with less than 'one mistake' of altitude is just asking for it. Flying fast requires some amount of skill but ultimately its just testing the wing. Doing aerobatics down low is risky but its primarily skill based so you can take a calculated risk based on your assessed competence. I feel that taking a wing to the edge down low like this was motivated by the desire for the ground rush since going doing 50 up high doesn't feel like anything. Glad he survived, hope he learns from it.

[@niconico3907]

​@@any1alivewhy do you say 50/50? Reserve openning is much higher than that if you use it correctly.

[@any1alive]

@@niconico3907 well it either does or doesn't. Silly joke kinda but yeah Even low down reserves help with drag up high it will defo for sure

[@elpanchosancho2]

Paraglider pilot also here: Gain altitude then throw your reserve towards the propeller, it will quickly open.

[@dominicbrown5733]

Great video, so glad Anthony is alive after the horrific crash. Sadly, he is still in denial about the facts, as clearly shown by the video. He had his hands out of the brakes, completely focused on his phone (with adrenaline pumping), on full bar, fully trimmed, 85ft above the ground, after not having checked the wing fully beforehand. That stuff would keep me on the ground and awake every night forever more.

[@mikes6216]

As stated multiple times and shown in print, you MUST NOT touch the brakes when the trims are out. He said he did check the wing and was confident with it and it was his 2nd flight. Your point about the phone distraction is valid, and that he used his hand to hold the phone instead of do work, with his last 4 seconds to live. I think those upper lines were unsheathed, making them prone to tangles and maybe this is something BGD will reconsider (edit: Tucker pointed out lots of gliders have unsheathed lines without issue). Before releasing the trims in flight is when he should have *spent more time looking up to inspect the lines*, Tucker gave him a pass on this. As the video said, his big mistakes were not flying with a reserve and speed flying too low, even if the glider was defective these 2 things would have likely saved him the crash.

[@DrAElemayo]

@@mikes6216 It's well known that the speed bar increases the risks of collapse and that it should never be used low. That's the main risk in my opinion. Especially on a reflex wing. A reserve wouldn't have helped much here. When I first saw this crash video (before I even knew it was gonna crash), I was already on edge. I wasn't surprised at all when what happened happened. It's very unfortunate but I hope people learn from it.

[@jefflahey9202]

Anthony's in for a rollercoaster of a ride. Funny how people ask "Are you gonna do it again" I'm 3 1/2 years in recovering from 47 fractures from a similar incident. A year in hospital waiting for a right ankle left knee replacement probably take up flying ultralights again. Who knows probably change my mind again. All the best for Anthony's recovery

[@mikesmith7497]

Keep up the hardwork and keep your head up you'll be almost as good as new in no time.

[@flyingdanwitha29sedan]

What a great break down… this had to be one of the hardest videos that I’ve ever watched… I just started getting into using speed bar! I have to say I love using it! I try to really check my lines before flight every flight.. Great interview man. Happy Anthony is alive and in good spirits! Great video man!

[@flygringo]

Ditch the speed bar. It isn't a race

[@stephenkeen6044]

@@flygringo It's a tool, like all glider controls. Matter of judgement when to use it, but you should be well-versed in the possible consequences in order to make a _good_ judgement. Combination of big ears and speedbar will get you down quick if you have a need for it. My advice would be to fly with it, but use it sparingly. Of course, some use it for high speed low maneuvres, coming off bar when initiating turns. This is how you use it in slalom racing. Each to their own and their own risk / reward assessments...

[@mikes6216]

@@stephenkeen6044 Use the speedbar, it does not increase your risks if you follow the instruction manual and it can save you in situations like cloud suck or being blown back into rotor. Speed bar with big ears increases collapse and cravat risk but sometimes it is still the least risky option to choose. No problem, use speedbar, if it was dangerous it would be red and make evil sound effects when you kick.

[@flyingdanwitha29sedan]

@@flygringo what!!!!!! There’s nothing wrong with speed bar! I fly in high winds all the time! So it’s nice to have when I’m not moving forward!!

[@flyingdanwitha29sedan]

@@stephenkeen6044 I agree!!! I love it! I’m in high winds all the time! It’s nice to have when I’m not moving forward !!

[@ParamotorNC]

I bet you looked up to check for tension knots before accelerating. I now check my entire trailing edge for deformations on my initial climb out... every flight since Anthony's accident. In the past I only checked wingtips for cravats. Thanks to Anthony for sharing his story. Thinking of you bud. Thanks for this video Tucker.

[@TuckerGott]

Absolutely. I reverse kited the glider on launch, inspected it. Then thoroughly inspected every line and cell in flight before accelerating.

[@johnlewispractical]

That sound Anthony made when he hit the ground. That sound gives me nightmares. I had a head on collision with another car traveling at 80mph. When I came round. I remember, i was making that sound. Haunting noise to me. Take your time with recovery and keep your head in the game buddy

[@thedanmaas]

Wishing @AnthonyVella a full and speedy recovery! I appreciate the follow up on this Tucker. I think it's important to create this kind of content to reminds us all where the risks lie and how serious the outcomes can be. Fly safe everyone!!

[@frankmazur7186]

props to Anthony for sharing. I am a skydiver and always respect those who share their malfunctions, even if self induced. More knowledge is power!

[@mikes6216]

In General Aviation it is required to report incidents and accidents, the info changes laws and manuals.

[@pentachronic]

Excellent analysis and discussions. Also It is very gracious of Anthony to discuss and be open about all of this. It helps everyone in this sport.

[@kjcase]

Thanks to you, and Anthony, for sharing for the betterment of the parameter community! Glad to see that Anthony is recovering well!

[@WilliamsWings]

As a previous paramotor pilot your breakdown is thorough and appreciated. Thank you

[@artoodeetoo3064]

Outstanding video fellas! Should put the full interview on the uncut channel, I'd watch the shit out of that. Awesome to see two friends supporting each other.

[@Vousie]

The height thing is a really important point - from the video it looked like the glider folded over & collapsed, but then straightened out and reinflated pretty much right before he hit the ground so I think that even if he still didn't have a reserve, just being a little bit higher would've given him enough time to at least get the glider gflying well enough to avoid a crash.

[@falconron4217]

Yes you're correct you can tell if you'd have been about another 600 ft up or high or maybe even 800 it would have recovered fine. It's called complacency it causes a majority of all the accidents in the world. I also have a been a victim of my own complacency so I know how it goes

[@falconron4217]

Yeah it looks like that glider was on its way to recovery you just didn't have enough altitude

[@Kingko1234]

Great Job breaking this down Tucker. I went to your page immediately after seeing this crash and I am glad you did such a good job breaking this down.

[@chamales3]

Great video and awesome to meet you when you came to visit Anthony. Definitely lots to learn from this terrible crash. Between all his videos since the crash and this one, people will become more aware and fly differently / safer. The tension knot was tough to see and those unsheathed lines are super thin and seem to grab everything. Even with a perfect layout and preflight the lines could always come up and form a tension knot from all the slack. Thanks again for the video and support for our Friend.

[@cbdane]

A very sensible and even-handed review of the incident. You were thorough and honest in a very kind way. Thank you!

[@Aelidiil]

What a great respectful video Tucker. I hope Anthony recovers quickly. I personally don't fly but wish I did and this type of video is very important for every paramotor flyer.

[@rickb4596]

Great informative interview and video, Tucker. I wish Anthony the best on his recovery. He seems like a really decent guy, and I'm glad his family gets to still have him be their Dad and husband! Fly safe and have fun!

[@uncletonyppg326]

Awesome job on the video! I love how you covered each topic from Anthony's side, the glider and then test flight. Really Informative for everyone who flys!

[@TuckerGott]

Thanks! I know a lot of people have been scared to fly that glider at full speed.

[@Joey70000]

You're always very thorough with the work you do, and for that I thank you.

[@mjbishop2k3]

Great interview , praying for Anthony’s full recovery

[@lifewithNickj]

Thanks for the video and update.

[@invisibleriverranch]

what a great interview and get better Anthony

[@FreshTillDeath56]

Thanks for looking over all of the information, Tucker. I think you gave everything a fair assessment.

[@armaugh]

Great interview and analysis of what happened. Thanks

[@PatrickHoodDaniel]

I've been watching you for a really long time and this is the only video I felt anxious while watching you make the adjustments to fly as fast as the wing allowed.

[@CraigSmith568]

I wish Anthony a full recovery. I think this shows that when you are pushing anything to its limits you should use whatever you have at your disposal to make it safe as possible if something should go wrong. Great video Tucker.

[@gileswhitaker9656]

Great video! It's an impressive feat to get all the camera angles, all the explanations and edit together to tell a compelling story that feels natural.

[@danielcbrecht]

Thank you for this video Tucker

[@092155GW]

Great video Tucker. You did a good interview in this video by asking good questions and letting Anthony speak more than you, which so many doing interviews fail at doing - so, good job on that. Hope Anthony recovers to confidently and safely fly another day. You performed a good test flight for the glider in question, and it was admirable of you to do that given you are not a dealer for it. That shows character and goes a long way wth me. Keep up the great work Tucker... and fly safe!

[@Robbo1966]

What a great very informative video, well put together. thanks Tucker

[@ryandinan]

Fantastic interview Tucker! Anthony is an awesome human being. I’m glad he’s in good spirits and on the mend. Hindsight is always 20/20 they say; everyone can be a critic. I think Anthony did more than most do for a preflight. He was unlucky - which can happen to anyone. All we can do is talk and learn from one another to help minimize injury in this amazing sport. I thank you and Anthony for making content to share with us all. I know for certain you both have made me a safer pilot and I can’t thank you enough for all you do! Get well soon Anthony, and thank you Tucker for continuing to be a great ambassador for the sport!

[@joshbarnes5784]

Glad you did this bro! Very good video

[@fbrummitt]

Tucker, your videos are always enjoyable, educational and especially respectful when doing these types (like your tribute to Jeff). Well done, speedy recovery Anthony.

[@TuckerGott]

Much appreciated.

[@dingorun1]

Great review! Thanks Tucker!

[@Tudalouu]

Tucker your look has changed so much over the years. Love your videos. I broke my tibia over the weekend rock climbing. Long road to recovery,

[@dirkhoekstra727]

Thank you Anthony and Tucker for sharing this whole ordeal and discussion with us. It is really advantageous to the PPG Community for improving awareness of safety! Anthony, may you have a speedy recovery!

[@mikepierce1228]

Such an extensive, sensitive and insightful video. Mr. T.

[@Steed007]

Thanks for the video Guys very Educational get well soon Anthony

[@LostNavigator]

Thank you both. Very informative. I want to do this at some point. Will more than likely go to Aviator in FL.

[@XanBos]

It’s good to have these videos, to let the public know that when doing any sport/recreation, there are risks. Even the most trained are only human, and there will be the chance of error, to cause injury. With that said, it shout be noted that this is not a reason to stay away from these sports/recreations, but to educate everyone for a more safer experience. You always seem to bring it back to earth when these incidents happen. And although I may never get my wings, I still enjoy seeing how this sport takes us to the skies! Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness in creating these videos. ❤❤

[@jimsimard]

cool, loved the Anthony cameo, thx for the wonderful video.

[@ayev8tor]

RESPECT. Happy to have you in Arizona

[@ericswild]

excellent breakdown!

[@pkane5472]

Just donated to Anthony's gofundme. Thanks Tucker for being the great human you are!

[@evancrowley84]

Thanks for a fair assessment of the lead-up to the crash. I wish Anthony all the best on his road to recovery. I believe him when he says that he didn't play it up for the camera, and ultimately am glad that it can be used as a tool to evaluate and educate on how to avoid this sort of thing in the future. This happened shortly before I made the decision to schedule training, and hopefully will serve as an ongoing sobering reminder of how important the safety margin is for all flights. Respect for the sport, respect for the equipment, and respect for the price of failure.

[@vomaxHELLnO]

Awesome content, thanks!

[@DreGon_242]

Been waiting on this video

[@chrispbacon550]

Tucker another great video!!

[@paramotorhead]

The thing Anthony said about the med kit is exactly why you need to fly with a reserve. “Better to have one and not need it…….”. I hope Anthony gets airborne again with a new insight into flight safety with a reserve and altitude. The gung ho attitude of some of his peers regarding low level speed bar use certainly didn’t help him develop a sense of danger in doing so. I totally respect Anthony for his candour regarding his accident, it’s a shame he’s getting hate for it as he’s done the community a service in posting the videos in full. I wish him a full and speedy recovery.

[@grejen711]

While I agree with the reasons for flying with a reserve I find the statement " “Better to have one and not need it…….”" to be somewhat ... unconvincing? pointless? confusing? Because that statement can be applied to literally anything you want equally logically. One could use this argument to carry a sidearm while flying. It just shuts down the conversation. It's like saying "It is what it is." Um... yeah, I guess... what's your actual point? IDK, maybe I''m just being a pedantic @$$#@^ but I'm really getting crotchety lately about words and their meanings and what people are really trying to say. I'd rather have a realistic conversation about risk analysis than just stopping at "...better to have one...". I don't fly with a reserve. There, I've said it. I do when paragliding, but not when paramotoring. I just don't feel it's necessary for the risk level I fly with. I cruise around like I'm in a really slow airplane. Yes, some GA aircraft also have reserves (aka Ballistic Recovery Systems) but for the most part they still don't. Why not? Because they are heavy, expensive, and don't make the aircraft fly better, or safer. They might save a life, and in fact Cirrus aircraft do have an improving record of BRS saves. But realistically we're much more likely to be injured by pushing the limits (as Anthony was doing) too close to the ground. As Kyle O'Glee was fond of saying: "It's the dirt that hurts" stay away from the ground. And of course if one is pushing limits - test flying, or just satisfying your curiosity about your own limits or the limits of the equipment then for damn sure a reserve and enough altitude to use it seems like a great idea. But I don't fly to do that. I'm also really picky about the weather conditions. It's better to have it if you need it.. but for some people... its just best to not put yourself in a situation that you might need it.

[@Impsucks]

@@grejen711 "One could use this argument to carry a sidearm while flying". It would make complete sense if you were planning on camping in the wilderness with your paramotor, or have a chance to go down in grizzly/mountain lion territory. You have to ask yourself what you feel you can you live without in any given situation, and you will never be right every time.

[@pentachronic]

I think flying without a reserve is reckless TBH. If he didn’t like the weight balance, just add a counter balance. Not too difficult. It’s probably an “It’ll never happen to me” attitude which is the wrong way of thinking in aviation. You should have “It could happen to me so what must I do to mitigate it” attitude.

[@yasone7873]

@@grejen711 idk why you had to go on a certified yap session about minor details that literally only matter to idiots (because theres obviously no good reason you'd need a gun, whereas with a medkit or reserve, you can and eventually will need it if you fly enough), and then say "but maybe im just being pedantic" like obviously you are just being pedantic, the fuck? and then you went on to say that you don't even care about proper risk mitigation, so why are you giving your opinions on reserves and analogies about them? you aren't even smart enough to use one, it doesn't matter if you literally pick perfect weather conditions, all it takes is a single deformation, just one, or even just a single bit of turbulance at any height and you're potentially fucked, all because you felt okay enough with the odds to leave the reserve at home.

[@EddiXP]

​@@grejen711your statement makes zero sense

[@discountautoco]

Great video. Always doing it perfectly.

[@KeyaanAli]

Omg bro I was one of ur very first subscribers just haven’t been watching for a long time it’s so nice to see u reach this far

[@drnsamfgc]

Wish you a full and speedy recovery!

[@Aezyme]

Thanks for explaining really clearly what is a reflex wing. I have heard that terms so many times but never really explained to be well. I have learned stuff even 15 years later I started paragliding.

[@classicaudioadventures]

Thank you for the crash analysis, Tucker. As a future pilot I think these videos are invaluable. I wish Anthony all the best.

[@cloudpandarism2627]

without your investigation so many pilots would quit PPG. thanks tucker

[@Steed007]

i did think about it till I learned why and how !!!

[@cloudpandarism2627]

@@Steed007 i feel people see this and take the wrong outcome by quitting paramotoring without understanding the reason. its important we talk about it here and not drift off into gossip that BGD is not good or something. i think this can happen to any wing.

[@Vousie]

More like they'd "quit" it in a coffin... As much as I'm a bit concerned about Tucker's more recent base jumping and other risky flying, he does fly paramotors a lot more safely than many people do, so I'm rather glad that it's his channel that's one of the really popular paramotoring channels rather than the guys taking stupid risks and possibly having others not do the proper preparation and research, and end up getting themselves killed.

[@mikes6216]

Things like this make me more interested in PPG. It is a reminder that PPG is a challenge to be taken seriously. There is a healthy amount of fear which helps us make safer choices. Maybe some ppl quit but maybe they are the same ppl who buy equipment and quit anyways. Lots of new ppl have heard about the sport now and there will be new students as a result. There is a silver lining in the cloud :)

[@mikes6216]

I hope Anthony sees this, because it seems like he feels like he is responsible for shrinking PPG..... quite the opposite!

[@asagraf7276]

Im a fixed-wing pilot, and have found out about paramotor aviation through your channel. Fabtastic content. Some commenters here need to understand: the way you and Anthony calmly discuss the mistakes and lessons learn in a frank, honest manner is the only way something like this will never happen again. Owning the mistakes without ego and learning from them is the most important thing that this video can achieve. Whether its fixed-wing, rotorcraft, powered parachute, or any other category of flight, we accept a certain amount of risk every time we fly. It is our job as safe pilots to mitigate every risk we can and have a plan for recovery when (not if, but WHEN) something unexpected goes wrong. We can't catch every problem, even with the most thorough preflight or pre-maneuver checks. As an example: I wont take off if my engine is leaking oil. But what if the leak is pooling inside the cowling? It's unreasonable to remove a dozen screws before every flight. That there might be an invisible problem is a risk I ACCEPT. So before takeoff I make the plan for what I will do *when* the engine fails on departure, to mitigate that risk. It sounds like you operate with a similar mindset. I wish Anthony the best of recovery. And I hope that people here in the comments section who are accusatory recognize how much strength of character it takes to sit down and reflect like this. Thank you for this video!

[@KrisFlix]

When I first saw Anthony’s accident on KZbin, I was like Tucker is going to do a video on it. That’s really cool how he met up with you and did this video. Hope Anthony recovers well and fly’s again. That was a super scary accident.

[@timothystone4998]

Thank You for your great Video and Your experience God Bless You Guys and Your Family's

[@EladarImm]

Long-time viewer, rarely comment - great analysis. Watched the original video and the adjacent ones (recovery, the extra footage); very glad he's okay, and that he's sharing it for the community to learn from. I can imagine that's probably also very hard for him: kudos for that. I'm really glad you followed up the "folks who can fly without a reserve" with essentially, "but everyone should". Done my share of crazy dangerous stuff (including up in the sky). Safety gear exists for a reason, and you're ALWAYS better with it than without. That One Time you need it is the time you don't have it. Thanks to both of you for this. Really important to have this kind of after-action so people can learn.

[@jediknight2350]

that was a scary story im glad hes alive and well hopefully he makes a full recovery .

[@justincase5272]

Good analysis.

[@GGCGAGSG]

I am developing great respect for you Tucker.

[@keithgrey]

@anthonyvella is a great rep for the sport and proved it by quickly posting his error. Hang in there Soldier, this too shall pass and make you a better pilot. Thanks for your honesty!

[@footedan1973]

Great education video

[@davidwillis5016]

Thanks

[@shawnpmartin77]

You are good for the Paramotor community sir

[@PhantomMark]

This was deep.......fwiw I am super interested in getting a paramotor, being 51 yrs old I am also super happy with the idea of just gentle flying with the safest wing possible :D No messing around, just enjoying the views and wind in my hair :)

[@brutalhonesty5138]

Great Video

[@sergioin3D]

For real hoping toward an amazing recovery

[@user-kc5np1kz6d]

Get well soon Anthony....we r just waiting to see you roaring in the sky once again!!

[@taco-lover]

When I saw his video, I literally cried as I could imagined the pain he suffered from.

[@ddl10]

You the man 2 👍 from Ottawa Canada 🇨🇦

[@johnathonspring6182]

Wow thank you for all that.

[@mikewolf3264]

Glad your okay man! Them kids and wife need you! Heal well, and stay safe!

[@eazzy171]

That crash was scary, I’m getting chills on my spine… Speedy recovery to Anthony ❤❤

[@jerseyshorescannernews]

We love Tuckers Channel. We are quite shook!

[@harryvuemedia5106]

Great testing! Great interview! And great breakdown of the accident and how to prevent or prepare for accidents like this. True that if I am to paramotor with a new glide, I would definitely flown higher for safety and recovery reasons. Just like with a paramotor, when riding a motorcycle, I follow the 2-4-12 rule. If you're too close to the car, you only have 2 seconds to react which the 2-second rule. So allow yourself further away from the car in front of you that will give you 8 to 12 seconds to plan and react. From the MSF class, the 2-second following distance, the 4-second immediate path, and the 12-second anticipated path. Also, I would recommend you all to fly with a dedicated camera that has a hand strap on it. Flying while holding your smartphone, when something happens, we tend to hold onto our smartphone because we dont want to lose it. Because when situations happens, seconds matter and the last thing we want to deal with is putting away our smartphones and then turning our attention to the glider. Having a dedicated camera with a strap, you can drop the camera right away and attend to your situation. Other than that, this is a great video to teach everyone on what to do and not to do. No blame game guys, all love and compassion. Speedy recovery Anthony!!

[@micjr21]

Glad he’s alive. Hope he gets better soon.

[@jordanezell5132]

My best regards to you both.

[@SouthGeorgiaHotShot]

Tucker you're the reason I wanted to get into paramotors. He's the reason I changed my mind. No joke I was weeks away from ordering something

[@TuckerGott]

I hope this video brought some clarity to the situation. Everyone has their own risk tolerance but I really wanted to show how injury could have been prevented.

[@DrAElemayo]

The guy was flying incredibly recklessly. This was an easily avoidable accident. But some people feel ok increasing their risk to get more of a rush. This is a result of that.

[@sailor-rick]

Pushing the limits of a sport or a piece of equipment always increases the risk, regardless of the sport, but pushing the limits without using any risk-mitigation is reckless. Perhaps his failing to notice a tension-knot or tangle was inevitable, but flying at the most dangerous altitude while pushing the limits of his wing was reckless. This kind of recklessness occasionally results in scuba-diving deaths, motocross deaths, mountain climbing deaths, boating deaths, driving deaths, etc.

[@Willrocs]

He is still unpacking what happened. Glad he is alive

[@SEANRMZ]

really glad to see Anthony, up and abouts. That was a scary crash. thanks the testing Tuck. The wing could of caught a gust or turbulence and the right spot on the wing.. maybe bad place at the wrong time of flight... who knows

[@barkin-brit486]

As always, great work. Finally someone I feel I can listen to when it comes to this accident. I'd hate to be a content creator in this sport, it seems the creation of content is or could be directly linked to a lowering of personal safety standards. Flying without a reserve is something I will never understand. High speed low altitude acro is another thing I cannot fully wrap my head around. We love your videos guys but we implore you, be safer than even we are. You are our role models.

[@Spacey_UK]

Thx for sharing your experience.. it has not put me off learning to fly 😂.. school runs can be serious lol, and your still ere. Get back up there😊

[@canolando3499]

I was flying a trike quite a few years ago, upon takeoff I lost power heading to a row of trees. I tried turning away from them when the wind stalled. It tipped left an I cranked it right . That was it. It spiraled to the ground. Lucky I had a nose come which took the impact. I walked away without a scratch scratch. The bad part is my 5 yr old daughter was watching. I can't imagine the fear as she saw her daddy crash. I told myself that is it for flying for the sake of my family. I miss flying and now my kids are grown up, but my wife doesn't want to be a widow so I have to watch you fly. Thanks for all your flying adventures adventures.

[@sunshinecatcher8779]

One lucky fella, good luck for the future

[@turkeyphant]

2:30 top speed may be unimportant for your flying but for comps, whether endurance or traditional format, it's one of the most important way before other incremental things you can use to get ahead.