What happened
On July 9, 2011, at approximately 16:15 local time, a paragliding accident occurred at Leszno Airport (EPLS) during a recreational flight. A pilot with limited experience was performing a winch-assisted takeoff. The launch began smoothly, and the DUDEK Nemo M 25 paraglider reached an altitude of approximately 70 to 100 meters AGL.
During the climb, the paraglider began deviating significantly to the right. Despite radio commands from the launch coordinator instructing the pilot to correct the heading, the pilot failed to respond and performed uncoordinated control inputs. The winch operator attempted to mitigate the situation by reducing tension on the tow line. The paraglider eventually turned 180 degrees from its original heading. At an altitude of about 50 meters, the launch coordinator ordered the tow line to be cut and instructed the pilot to land into the wind. However, the pilot did not react, and the paraglider continued flying with the wind at speeds of 40–50 km/h, dragging the unreleased tow line across a cornfield. At an altitude of approximately 10 meters, the tow line was suddenly snagged by the high crop, causing the wing to dive abruptly and resulting in the pilot striking the ground.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the sequence of events, the technical state of the winch and release mechanism, and the environmental conditions. The investigation confirmed that the winch and the tow line release mechanism were fully functional. The investigators also reviewed the pilot's physical condition and the weather conditions at the time of the accident, noting that the temperature exceeded 30°C.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to react to the deviation in flight direction during the winch launch.
- The failure to release the tow line after a significant loss of heading led to the line being dragged through a cornfield.
- The tow line was abruptly braked by the high crops, which caused the paraglider wing to dive and the pilot to impact the ground.
- Contributing factors included high ambient temperatures and the pilot's potential physiological state, as she had been in the sun for several hours without headgear or adequate hydration, which may have caused a temporary loss of spatial orientation.