Human error, not equipment failure, behind B.C. hang-gliding death, group says

VANCOUVER – Canada’s national hang-gliding association says pilot error not equipment failure led to the death of a 27-year-old woman in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley this spring.

Lenami Godinez-Avila plunged about 300 metres to her death April 28 while on a tandem hang-gliding trip with instructor Jon Orders.

The Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Canada says its investigation has ruled out any possibility of equipment failure in the tragedy.

It says the passenger’s harness was not connected to the glider during take off, and a “hang-check” was not performed before take off.

The association says multiple distractions may have resulted in a breakdown of pre-launch operating procedures.

Orders is expected to appear in a Chilliwack, B.C. court next April on charges of obstructing justice after he allegedly swallowed a memory card thought to be related to the incident.