A 50-year-old Mountain View man died Wednesday evening after falling from a paraglider into Tom Steed Reservoir in Kiowa County, according to investigators. Jason Ray Laird was flying over the reservoir when the aircraft's engine failed, sending him into the water below. Bystanders managed to pull him out, but he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol identified Laird as a 50-year-old Mountain View man and said he had been flying over Tom Steed Reservoir on a paraglider when the engine failed, causing him to fall into the water, according to KOKH. Emergency crews were called to the reservoir shortly before 7 p.m. on Sept. 24, per the same report.
Bystanders Rushed to Help
Once Laird hit the water, bystanders pulled him out before he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The station's report does not name the hospital, identify the bystanders who intervened, or detail which emergency-response agencies responded to the scene.
Details surrounding the incident remain limited. The exact altitude Laird was flying at, the make or model of his paraglider, and the specific circumstances behind the engine failure have not been disclosed. It is also not known whether Laird was flying alone or held any certification for powered paragliding at the time of the crash.
How Powered Paragliding Typically Works
Powered paragliding involves a motorized backpack unit strapped to a pilot beneath a paraglider wing, allowing for self-launched, engine-driven flight. Pilots hoping to eventually fly with a passenger must obtain a tandem rating through the United States Powered Paragliding Association, which oversees training and certification for the sport nationally. Operating guidelines published by other municipalities, such as the City of Lee's Summit, outline radio-style departure procedures and instructions for pilots to remain clear of certain areas, reflecting the kind of safety protocols that govern powered paragliding activity elsewhere.
No additional information has been released about whether Laird's flight complied with such guidelines, and no official incident report, medical examiner record, or Oklahoma Highway Patrol document has been made public detailing the fall. The circumstances of the engine failure itself also remain unverified beyond the attribution provided by investigators.
