What happened
On May 9, 2016, a qualified paragliding pilot took off from a launch site located at Skrzyczne Mountain. The flight initially proceeded normally as the pilot gained altitude. However, during the descent phase of the flight, the pilot fell out of the harness. The ALPINA 2 ML paraglider continued its flight path independently after the pilot had been ejected. The pilot sustained fatal injuries during the fall. Data from the variometer indicated that the total flight duration was 21 minutes.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the paragliding equipment involved in the accident. During the inspection of the gear, investigators found no mechanical damage to the equipment that would indicate a specific cause for the incident. Notably, the investigators observed that the harness leg straps were unfastened. The buckles on the harness were inspected and found to be in proper working order, with no evidence of malfunction.
Findings
- The pilot fell from the harness during the descent.
- The harness leg straps were unfastened at the time of the incident.
- No mechanical failure was found in the harness buckles or the paraglider wing.
- The investigation was closed without a definitive determination of the cause.