What happened
On July 30, 2017, a pilot intended to perform a recreational flight from Góra Żar in Międzybrodzie Żywieckie. Upon arrival, the pilot assessed the meteorological conditions as suitable for flight. After preparing the paraglider, the takeoff was completed without incident.
After approximately fifteen minutes of flight, while at an altitude of about 130 meters above the terrain near a forest edge and a reservoir, the aircraft encountered a rotor. This sudden change in wind direction and velocity caused the left wing of the paraglider to collapse. The collapse triggered a spiral dive. Due to the low altitude and the pilot's limited flight experience, the spiral could not be recovered. During the descent, the pilot struck a tree trunk with both legs before falling to the ground. The paraglider became entangled in the tree branches, which significantly cushioned the impact.
Following the accident, emergency medical services transported the pilot to a hospital in Żywiec, where serious injuries to both legs were diagnosed.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control and the impact with the tree. The investigation established the flight conditions at the time of the incident and the pilot's experience level, noting that the pilot had approximately 30 hours of total flight time.