What happened
On September 21, 2022, at approximately 12:50 local time, a mid-air collision occurred near Cerro Esmeralda in the commune of Alto Hospicio, Tarapacá Region. Two pilots operating unpowered ultralight (UL) aircraft, both of foreign nationality, were engaged in recreational flight when their gliders collided.
The incident began as the first pilot, flying a Skywalk Paraglider Chili 4, was navigating a thermal zone. Video footage from a helmet camera revealed that while the pilot was monitoring a group of other paragliders, the second pilot, operating a Gin Gliders Inc. Avid, appeared suddenly from a contrary heading. The impact caused the wing of the first aircraft to collapse and become entangled with the body of the second pilot.
Following the collision, both aircraft entered a vertical descent for approximately six seconds. Although the pilot of the Skywalk Paraglider Chili 4 attempted to deploy an emergency parachute, the low altitude prevented it from fully inflating before impacting the ground. The collision resulted in one fatality, as the Argentine pilot succumbed to injuries 18 days later, and one injury, involving the Indonesian pilot who sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
DGAC Chile examined flight footage, witness accounts, and the physical wreckage of both aircraft. The investigation reviewed the flight paths of both pilots, the meteorological conditions at the time, and the communication protocols used during the operation. Investigators also analyzed the maintenance records and the operational procedures regarding thermal zone entry and collision avoidance.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a mid-air collision between two unpowered ultralight aircraft, which led to the entanglement of the wings and a subsequent loss of control.
- The pilot of the Gin Gliders Inc. Avid was not maintaining constant visual surveillance of the approaching aircraft while maneuvering within the thermal zone.
- The pilot of the Skywalk Paraglider Chili 4 entered the thermal sector directly into the flight path of the other active pilots.
- The two pilots were operating on different VHF communication frequencies, preventing them from monitoring each other's intentions.
- Meteorological conditions, including visibility and wind, were found to be suitable for paragliding operations.
- The altitude at which the emergency parachute was deployed was insufficient to allow for full inflation before ground impact.