Witness: Harness faulty in paragliding accident

INCLINE VILLAGE - A witness to a paragliding accident that claimed the life of a pilot and his student Saturday said he believes a problem with the aircraft's harness caused the crash.

Instructor John Van Meter, 45, of Soda Springs, Calif., and Travis Kolvet, 21, of Fernley, were flying tandem when they crashed into Slide Mountain near Mount Rose Ski Resort's east bowl at approximately 11:40 a.m., according to the Washoe County Sheriff's Department.

Van Meter was pronounced dead on impact. Kolvet was airlifted to Washoe Medical Center and died after arriving at the hospital.

"Everything looked good until John's feet left the ground," said witness Ed Youmans, a friend of Van Meter's who happened to be flying that day.

Youmans was among a dozen others, including the father of Kolvet's fiance, who witnessed the two men launch.

Youmans said he noticed Van Meter was hanging low and to the left side, which would make it impossible for him to control the glider. He said when people fly tandem, the instructor sits in the back either at the same level or a few inches above the student so that he or she can see and operate the controls.

"With all of John's weight on the left, the glider started moving left, gradually at first but then more quickly," Youman said. "John was trying very hard to control the glider, but wasn't able to give enough control input to change its direction. From my perspective at the accident, something either wasn't attached or the attachment (of the harness) failed at the launch."

Washoe County Detective Dennis Carry said the investigation is continuing, but confirmed Youmans' speculation that the accident appeared to be caused by a problem with the harness.

Van Meter, who leaves behind his wife, Lori, owned Truckee paragliding company Wingtrip, which provides paragliding instruction, gear and a Web site for gliders.

"He has always been the safest pilot I've known," Youmans said. "This is the first thing that's ever happened to him, and I can't say that about the rest of us. He's never even twisted an ankle before. This is a devastating blow to a whole lot of people."

Kolvet, described by Youmans as a smiling, upbeat person, was taking off on his first thermal flight at the time of the accident.

"Travis was learning to fly from John and probably had more than 50 flights behind him, but he hadn't flown in thermals yet," Youmans said.