FLYING -- A 55-year-old Wapato man has died in a paragliding accident in Chelan County.

Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett says David A. Norwood, known as an experienced flyer, crashed after taking off from the top of Chelan Butte on Wednesday afternoon.

Witnesses reporting seeing him fall quickly after one side of his parachute collapsed. He crashed about 150 yards downhill from where he took off.

The sheriff says Norwood was well-known within the paragliding community.

Word from other paragliders on social media indicate that Norwood, aka "Preacher":

• "Took an asymmetric off the launch and collided with terrain."
• "Lauched 1:30 on green monster at Chelan. It was windy on the flats; assuming it was on launch. Major collapse; landed on his head breaking his neck."
• An ongoing discussion among shocked paragliders is underway here.