Hang Glider Obit

October 2, 2006 11:28 PM

Extraordinary Hang Glider Murdered-- Sunday, August 20, 2006 Dan Murphy was just pulling up on his motorcycle at his favorite place to hang glide in San Francisco. Fort Funston, just south of the City, is known for having perfect conditions for the sport. But on this day a deranged man approached him in the parking lot, shooting him in the head at point-blank range. Before the man turned the gun on himself he also shot one of Dan's friends who was nearby. Dan died from his injuries, but he leaves behind a couple of short videos that reveal some of his amazing hang gliding feats, including an Icarus-like crash, and perhaps his moment of glory when he successfully made a pinpoint landing into a stationary wheelbarrow. Evidently Dan took great pleasure in twisting in the saddle on take-off. Here's his signature move. R.I.P.
posted by derangedlarid (10 comments total)

i used to go out there and watch those guys hangglide. not sure if i'll ever be able to return... this is completely Fd up. RIP Dan.
posted by joeblough at 11:43 PM on October 2, 2006

Watching that Icarus crash video made me want to pass out. Damn. I kept wondering when we were going to see part of the horizon - and then we see it and he keeps falling. This guy must have been amazing. I watch those guys out Fort Funston also on occasion. I'm always envious and wish I could do what they do.

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posted by quadog at 11:59 PM on October 2, 2006

What quadog said.

And what a horrible way to die.

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posted by mediareport at 12:29 AM on October 3, 2006

Dan Murphy walked away from the "Icarus like crash".
posted by wtfchuck at 4:14 AM on October 3, 2006

Here's his profile on youtube.
posted by mathowie at 5:31 AM on October 3, 2006

quadog writes "Watching that Icarus crash video made me want to pass out. "

Not quite as bad as that guy freehanding up a cliff but ya, I'm woozy too. It would have been a lot worse if there were a few clouds in the sky to give a sensation of vertical speed.
posted by Mitheral at 7:50 AM on October 3, 2006

Any more detail on the "icarus crash". It looked like he tried to fire off two reserve parachutes, but each was pulled back into the swirling top. He's very lucky the glider failed into such a (relatively) stable configuration.
posted by Popular Ethics at 8:49 AM on October 3, 2006

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posted by joedan at 11:35 AM on October 3, 2006

This has made me want to try hang gliding. Any advice for a school that would take a n00b on a tandem ride in the San Fransisco Bay Area?
posted by anthill at 2:36 PM on October 3, 2006

California's 30-year failure to confront mental illness.

This wasn't a freak accident so much as the inevitable byproduct of specific policy decisions.
posted by craniac at 5:37 AM on October 4, 2006