NTSB investigates parasailing accidents
The US National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) first investigative report into parasailing safety in the US has found that the activity is largely unregulated, with serious accidents frequently caused by faulty equipment. Because of the nature of an activity that often occurs in changing weather conditions with parasailers suspended 500 feet or more above the water’s surface, accidents often result in death or serious injury.
“An afternoon of parasailing can have tragic results if something as simple as a weak towline, strong winds, or a worn harness causes a serious accident,” said NTSB acting chairman Christopher A. Hart. “It is crucial that operators are competent and aware of all the risks associated with parasailing.”
The report cited eight accidents that occurred in Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina and the US Virgin Islands that resulted in eight deaths and five injuries, including several in which individuals were dragged by an inflated parasail canopy across water and land and into obstacles.
During the course of its investigations, the NTSB identified a variety of safety concerns, including vessel operators who continued to operate in hazardous wind conditions, use of inadequate equipment or unserviceable gear, and towline strength that was in some cases compromised.
The NTSB said that some safety risks could be mitigated if operators were required to have at least a ‘minimum level of experience and professional competence’, so it recommended that the United States Coast Guard implement a special license endorsement for parasail operators.
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