Other
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 17; Flight Crew Total 28
Other / Unknown; Communication Breakdown
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Diverted
Human Factors
[At] approximately 4;500 MSL; an all white [small aircraft] circled me while flying a paraglider and then flew approximately 200 feet directly below me. I was unable to get the tail number. I am relatively certain this was the same aircraft from the next event.[Several days earlier]; at 1;100 AGL; an all white [small aircraft] circled me while I flew my paraglider; then passed directly west of me; level with my altitude; upwind; approximately 200 feet horizontally. I was unable to get the tail number. He flew very slow in a high angle of attack; perfect conditions for strong wingtip vortices; directly upwind. To avoid vortices; I spiraled down and was forced to land in less than ideal conditions. Wingtip vortices on even a small aircraft will collapse a paraglider and cause an emergency reserve parachute deployment. Paragliders use non-steerable round reserves. All year round; every Saturday and Sunday; a small group of paraglider pilots conduct towing operations. Paragliders are towed to no more than 1;200 AGL behind a pickup truck using a payout winch in accordance with US Hang gliding and Paragliding Association safety recommendations. Towing in [this area] has been going on for approximately 10 years with permission from local land owners. I am working with the tow operator to contact FSS to begin filing NOTAMs during towing operations. The towing occurs in class G airspace; but the paragliders often enter the nearby class E airspace; avoiding class B airspace to the north.The aircraft in the incidents above is not the only aircraft that has made close passes; intentionally; on paragliders over the years. In each case it is clearly showboating.I am licensed under USHPA as a P2/M1 pilot with a surface tow endorsement. I am a former pilot with 2;500 hours; single and multi-engine commercial instrument rating with two type ratings. I no longer hold an FAA medical and do not currently fly with my FAA license.
Non-powered paraglider pilot reported multiple instances of small aircraft flying within close proximity of the paraglider.