What happened
On 30 May 2010, a paraglider pilot was conducting a recreational flight near Mt. Leinster, Co. Carlow. After an initial flight, the pilot took off again at approximately 12:56 hrs to seek thermal lift for a planned cross-country flight. While attempting to center himself in a thermal, the pilot was observed by witnesses to be flying close to the mountain ridge.
During the maneuver, the pilot attempted to widen his turn by applying the brakes on one side. This action caused the Nova Mentor M to pitch forward and enter a right-hand spiral descent. The aircraft impacted the terrain from a height of approximately 88 feet. The pilot sustained serious spinal injuries and required an emergency airlift to the hospital.
The investigation
The AAIU examined the pilot's equipment, including the canopy, harness, and variometer. Technical analysis of the variometer data revealed a sudden, significant increase in the rate of climb followed by a sharp descent immediately preceding the impact.
Investigators noted that the pilot, while having approximately 100 hours of flight time, was self-taught and had not undergone formal flight training. The examination of the canopy revealed that the brake lines were slightly shorter than standard, which could potentially reduce the margin for error during maneuvers. The investigation also noted that the pilot was operating in very close proximity to the terrain at the moment control was lost.