Source :
I have the VHS tape video
Video is MPEG-4 (H.264), 640x480, 30 fps

By: Gunter W. Schmidt
Email: gschmidt@pactiv.com 
Pilot: Gunter W. Schmidt
Experience Level: Advanced 
Glider: Firebird Flame (DHV-2 rated)
Harness: Charly by SOL with excellent back and side protect
Helmet: Open face 
Location: Hanglider Hill, Bakersfield, CA
When: February 18 2000 
Description: I am a P4 rated paragliding pilot with 1-1/2 advanced maneuvers clinics
   under my belt,who crashed into the side of a hill after doing a maneuver close to
   the ground (stupid thing to do). I free-fell approx. 35-40 ft before hitting the
   ground. I was doing a B-line stall on my XL Flame (DHV-2 rated), approx. 200 ft over
   the side of a sloping hill, when things went wrong. In reality I knew better than to
   do this so low to the ground. As we all know that a sure way for disaster to happen
   is to show off for the cameras with not enough altitude. Also having done this and
   other maneuvers before numerous times at this site I felt that it ‘s fairly safe
   and that little can go wrong, but if things do go wrong that I could pull out of it.
   This is generally true but not this close to the ground. 
Analysis: This incident is on video and I have analyzed it in great detail and come to
   the following analysis and conclusions. Scenario: I initiated a B-line stall, nice
   and clean, dropped about 100 ft then hands up. Glider seemed to come out OK, but
   in reality it went into parachutage. (Usually I put my brakes around my wrists
   and when I put my hands up the brakes are not as high as they would be if I had
   them in my hands. - Note: The brakes have previously been shortened slightly
   because I fligh with hands up high. However, even in this mode there is still a
   slight amount of deflection at the back of the wing. Recently I lengthened the
   brake lines by about 2 inches - much better now.) At one of the maneuvers clinics
   we identified this as a problem and hence also used the speed bar to accelerate
   the chute. This always works fine. However I did not use the speedbar here.
   (Again stupid - It is extremely important to think through every step of the
   maneuver before doing it, especially when not having done this maneuver in a while).
   The glider spun left without pilot input. I sensed loss of pressure and pulled down
   both brakes as I was spinning. This stopped the spin (at 180 degrees) but put me
   into a full stall (not as big as when taking a double rap but definitely a full stall).
   The chute went back, and dropped fast; and I immediately put hands up. This in turn
   slammed the chute forward to slightly below horizontal and the chute inverted
   (bottom side up). Note: I know better than to put hands up in stall when chute is
   back, since I’ve done many stalls, however things happened so fast that I wasn’t
   even aware that I was in a stall until the video was reviewed. At this point I’m
   falling face up, back to the ground, totally out of control. I fell under the chute
   which is now balled up and slammed into the ground on the side of the hill.
   ( Of course my family is standing there watching all this). I landed on my left
   back side and bounced about 10 ft. before coming to a stop.
Damage to pilot: I had the air knocked out of him severely I could not inhale when
   I tried to breath- scary feeling; may have been unconscious for a couple of minutes;
   had a couple of cracked ribs; extreme soar muscles on my back and left side; had
   swollen internal organs but no internal bleeding; spent two weeks sleeping in
   the sitting position. I was able to walk down the hill 150 ft Luckily no damage
   to the neck or spine. What saved pilot: 1) I recently bought a new harness
   (Charly by SOL) with excellent back and side protection; 2) The fact that I
   landed on the side of a sloping hill; 3) And a firm belief in God’s protection.
   (Actually I tell my friends that God wanted to get my attention. We’ll He has it
   now, I’m listening.)