What happened
On May 3, 2013, a powered paraglider was observed by witnesses approaching a landing site on a beach near Jaśkowo, Poland, at approximately 18:00 local time. During the landing sequence, the pilot's leg caught on a protruding tree root, causing the pilot to fall to the ground. The impact resulted in a fatal spinal injury.
The investigation
The investigation was conducted based on information provided by the Police. Investigators examined the pilot's credentials and found that the 33-year-old pilot did not hold valid qualifications for powered flight, as his previous certification had expired on October 24, 2012. Furthermore, the pilot's records indicated he had never been authorized to perform powered flights; his existing certification only covered pre-flight inspections (PDI).
Due to a lack of cooperation from the pilot, who failed to report the incident and did not respond to official correspondence, the commission was unable to determine the specific reasons why the pilot attempted to land in an area that did not guarantee a safe landing environment.