Paragliding instructor died after encountering turbulence, inquest hears

A paragliding instructor plunged to his death after encountering turbulence during a test flight, an inquest has heard.

Paul Kilburn, 54, had gone up his machine ahead of escorting a group on a training exercise, but his equipment suddenly became caught in a spin, and he crashed into a field.

Mr Kilburn, from Flixton, Greater Manchester was rushed to hospital, but could not be saved, as he suffered multiple injuries.

An inquiry blamed the accident on the businessman encountering turbulence as he flew above trees and nearby housing, during the accident at 1pm on December 3 last year.

He ran his own paragliding training school in Manchester and was due to take up a group of fliers above the village of Pilling, Lancs.

An expert from the British Paragliding Association told the Preston hearing Mr Kilburn had gone out without his usual equipment, including a GPS tracker as he only anticipated a short flight.

David Thompson said: “"The sport is not as risky as people perceive it to be. Usually, it is generally safe as long as you have proper training and fly in the right conditions. "He flew in an area where there were houses and tall trees and that is when he started to spiral. "My suspicion is that he has entered some kind of turbulence and has entered into a spin or spiral. When you are flying along at height the only turbulence you encounter is caused by thermal activity or a wave of wind.”

His son, Dale Kilburn, was inspired by his father’s career and recently passed a test to join the cabin crew of a commercial airline.

He wrote on Facebook: “So I passed my 3rd test today dad! I wish you could see what I’ve done with myself Paul Kilburn you really would be proud I’ve got myself on track! Got myself a job doing cabin crew maybe being in the sky is in our blood!! I miss you!! X”

Mr Kilburn was known as a hero after he  helped save a family who were caught in rising tides off the coast of Fleetwood in 2010.

According to reports with low fuel, flying low over the sea a kilometre offshore and at some risk to himself, he shepherded two adults and five children from sandbar to sandbar. He then stayed with them, flying circles above them to show the Coastguard where they were. Duty done, he headed back to land where his tank ran dry, before landing.