What happened
On July 18, 2007, two paragliding pilots were conducting a recreational flight near the Polish-Czech border. During the flight, one pilot realized they had drifted into Polish airspace and signaled to his companion to turn back. Because the pilots lacked radio communication, the second pilot (the witness) turned away to exit the airspace. After several minutes of flight, the witness realized he could no longer see his companion and began searching the area.
While flying over undulating terrain, the witness spotted the other pilot lying on the ground near a group of trees. Witnesses observing the final moments of the flight noted that the DESIRE M paraglider descended and briefly disappeared from view before attempting to climb. During this ascent, the wing began to oscillate violently. The pilot attempted to use the control lines to stabilize the wing, but the lines became tangled, causing the canopy to collapse. The pilot fell to the ground, and despite the arrival of emergency medical services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the equipment, the flight area, and witness testimonies. The investigation included a technical inspection of the DESIRE M parotaglider and the RODEO 115 foot-launched motor (PPG). The inspection of the gear revealed no technical defects that contributed to the accident. Investigators also analyzed the local meteorological conditions, noting that while the wind at higher altitudes was estimated at 2–4 m/s, the wind near the ground appeared stronger and non-laminar.
Findings
- The pilot flew into an area of turbulence created by a row of tall trees situated across the flight path.
- The fatal accident was caused by an unintentional entry into turbulence-induced air currents.
- The pilot's reaction to the wing deformation was either delayed or insufficient, leading to the lines twisting and the canopy collapsing.
- A lack of sufficient altitude may have prevented the pilot from successfully recovering the wing from its unstable state.