What happened
On August 20, 2017, a pilot was conducting a recreational flight in a DUDEK Nukleon 27 paraglider near Rybnica Leśna. While performing a turn toward the landing site, the paraglider's wing underwent significant deformation. This loss of aerodynamic stability caused the aircraft to enter a spiral dive toward the tree canopy. Although the pilot successfully managed to recover the wing from the spiral, the remaining altitude was insufficient to clear the obstacles. Consequently, the pilot flew through tree branches before impacting the ground.
Following the impact, the pilot remained conscious and was able to unbuckle themselves from the harness. Emergency medical services arrived at the scene approximately 10 minutes later. Due to the nature of the injuries sustained during the impact with the trees, the pilot requested an ambulance.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the aerodynamic stability of the paraglider during the landing approach and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation examined the sequence of the flight, the pilot's recovery maneuvers, and the meteorological factors present during the turn toward the landing zone.
Findings
- The pilot sustained a fracture of the distal forearm and various contusions.
- The primary cause of the accident was a sudden change in wind direction, which generated a rotor effect. This atmospheric turbulence led to the significant deformation of the paraglider wing, triggering the spiral dive.