Narrative:

I was working as an ATC controller at richmond approach control from XA00-XB14Z. At XA47Z, EMB145 notified me that they had an near midair collision with a hang glider. EMB145 was approximately 10 mi from richmond airport and the pilot reported the altitude as 2200 ft MSL, while in a descent to 2000 ft. As pilot stated that the crew did not see the hang glider till they passed, so no evasive actions were taken. The hang glider did not have a transponder and was not picked up by radar. I believe that due to the fact that hang gliders are not equipped with avionics, the hang glider operator did not know they were operating in or near a class C airspace. As an ATC controller, I would like to see hang gliders and ultra lights operate at greater distances from controled airspace.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RIC APCH CTLR WAS ADVISED BY AN E145 PLT ON APCH THAT THEY HAD AN NMAC WITH A HANG GLIDER.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING AS AN ATC CTLR AT RICHMOND APCH CTL FROM XA00-XB14Z. AT XA47Z, EMB145 NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY HAD AN NMAC WITH A HANG GLIDER. EMB145 WAS APPROX 10 MI FROM RICHMOND ARPT AND THE PLT RPTED THE ALT AS 2200 FT MSL, WHILE IN A DSCNT TO 2000 FT. AS PLT STATED THAT THE CREW DID NOT SEE THE HANG GLIDER TILL THEY PASSED, SO NO EVASIVE ACTIONS WERE TAKEN. THE HANG GLIDER DID NOT HAVE A XPONDER AND WAS NOT PICKED UP BY RADAR. I BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE FACT THAT HANG GLIDERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AVIONICS, THE HANG GLIDER OPERATOR DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE OPERATING IN OR NEAR A CLASS C AIRSPACE. AS AN ATC CTLR, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HANG GLIDERS AND ULTRA LIGHTS OPERATE AT GREATER DISTANCES FROM CTLED AIRSPACE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.