What happened
On July 29, 2017, a commercial paragliding flight was being conducted near Góra Żar, Międzybrodzie Żywieckie. The pilot was operating a Swing Twin 4 paraglider with one passenger on board. After taking off from the northern slope, the aircraft was in a stable, straight flight at a speed of approximately 15 km/h.
During the flight, the pilot encountered a powerful thermal wind characterized by a significant downdraft. This sudden atmospheric change caused the paraglider to lose almost all forward momentum, reducing the airspeed to nearly zero. Due to the sudden loss of lift, the paraglider, the pilot, and the passenger struck the treetops. The impact caused the group to slide along a tree trunk before reaching the ground.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the atmospheric conditions and the flight dynamics at the moment of the loss of lift. The investigation established the sequence of events from takeoff to the impact with the vegetation and examined the impact of the wind change on the aircraft's airspeed and altitude.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a sudden change in wind direction and velocity.
- The encounter with a strong downdraft caused the aircraft to decelerate to near-zero speed, leading to a loss of lift.
- The passenger sustained multiple injuries and required medical attention at an emergency department.
- The pilot remained uninjured.