It is understood the pilot was being "towed" when air conditions changed and he lost control, causing him to deploy his emergency parachute and hit the ground hard.

The 46-year-old pilot, believed to be from the Newcastle area, was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital by the Westpac chopper after the accident on Wednesday afternoon.

He suffered pelvic and leg injuries and was in a serious but stable condition at the time, a spokesperson for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter confirmed.

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Local air sport expert Godfrey Wenness told the Leader the man was badly hurt and was receiving treatment in hospital on Thursday.

He said the pilot was lucky to survive such a serious accident and said those types of events are often tragically fatal.

"Only about one in 100 would survive a 'lockout' accident like that," Mr Wenness said.

He said hang gliders travel quickly and when things go wrong, they can go very wrong.

Ambulance paramedics were called to the area near Barraba about 2:30pm on Wednesday and the helicopter's critical care team was also tasked.

A HANG GLIDING accident has landed a man in hospital with serious injuries after he was forced to deploy his emergency parachute during a flight near Barraba.

Ambulance paramedics rushed to the property to treat the man before the Westpac Rescue Helicopter arrived just before 2:30pm on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old man reportedly suffered a hang glider malfunction while flying in the area and had to carry out an emergency landing.

Emergency services said he hit the ground hard and sustained serious pelvic and leg injuries in the incident.

The chopper's critical care team helped to treat and stabilise the man at the scene near Barraba before he was airlifted for further treatment.

The chopper flew the man to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, it is understood he was in a serious but stable condition at the time.

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