Paranoid Pilot Testifies at Fatal Accident Inquiry After Mid-Air Collision
Sacha Dench, the climate activist famously dubbed the 'Human Swan', has revealed to a fatal accident inquiry that she developed a profound paranoia about flying in close proximity to other pilots following a previous crash in Wales. This testimony comes in relation to the tragic mid-air paramotor collision in the Scottish Highlands on September 18, 2021, which resulted in the death of fellow pilot Dan Burton, aged 54, while Dench survived with serious injuries.
The Round Britain Climate Challenge Expedition
The incident occurred during Dench's ambitious 3,000-mile Round Britain Climate Challenge expedition, which commenced in June 2021. This paramotor journey was designed to spotlight the urgent issue of climate change ahead of the pivotal Cop26 conference held in Glasgow later that same year. Dench, originally from Australia, had previously garnered significant acclaim for her earlier expedition documented in the BBC's Flight Of The Swans, which earned her the evocative nickname.
Previous Crash and Resulting Paranoia
Giving evidence at Tain Sheriff Court, Dench recounted a prior collision while paragliding onto a hill in Wales. "I was coming into land and another pilot above me caught his knee in my wing, and we both landed together," she described. "I got dragged off the top of the hill, dragged along on my face. I didn't know it at the time but I had broken my arm as well."
This earlier accident had a lasting psychological impact. Dench explained that she subsequently ceased flying in crowded areas entirely and adopted a "very strict rule" of predominantly flying solo. "I essentially was very paranoid about no-one flying close to me," she stated emphatically to the inquiry.
Trust in Dan Burton and Flying Protocols
When questioned by Victoria Andrews, representing the charity Conservation Without Borders, about why she was willing to fly with Dan Burton despite this paranoia, Dench's response was simple: "I trusted him." She elaborated that they had flown extensively together, including on the long-distance Flight of the Swans expedition from Russia, and he was intimately familiar with her piloting style.
Dench detailed specific safety protocols for paramotor flight. She asserted there was "no need to be within 50 metres of another pilot" and that flying to the side of another aircraft was the safest practice. She strongly advised against flying directly in front or behind another pilot, noting that leading creates turbulence and a pilot cannot see directly behind them. Consequently, she confirmed it would be the "duty" of a trailing pilot to avoid that position.
She acknowledged that Burton would sometimes fly above or behind her to capture video or photographs, but only under strict, pre-arranged "flying protocol" with clear communication. "The only time would be if we were in communication and he was specifically telling me where to go. Otherwise he would not be anywhere near me," she clarified.
Communication Systems and Flight Monitoring
The inquiry also examined communication methods. The pilots used "open channel" Bluetooth headsets that automatically connected when within approximately 800 metres of each other. Dench explained that if a pilot went out of range—for instance, to film—an audible sound would alert them upon reconnection. She agreed with her representative, Simon Richards, that without active communication, a pilot could assume the other was out of range and maneuver freely.
Under questioning from Fiscal Depute Jemma Eadie regarding onboard instruments for monitoring fuel and altitude, Dench struggled with recall. "It was four-and-a-half years ago and I hit my head pretty hard," she said, fighting back tears during her testimony.
Ongoing Inquiry and Background
The fatal accident inquiry, which has heard evidence in previous sessions in May 2023 and January 2024, continues its proceedings. Dan Burton was a resident of Devon. The tragic collision has cast a long shadow over the aviation and environmental communities, highlighting critical issues of safety in shared airspace during adventurous, awareness-raising expeditions.
