What happened
On August 25, 2017, a 37-year-old pilot arrived at Mount Żar near Międzybrodzie Żywieckie to conduct paragliding flights. The pilot, who held a basic paragliding qualification obtained in 2015, had no prior experience flying in this specific area. Upon arrival, the pilot consulted with other local paragliders regarding the takeoff and landing procedures used at the summit.
On the day of the accident, takeoffs were being conducted from the mountain peak heading west. At approximately 15:30, the pilot launched into conditions characterized by strong westerly winds. After nearly an hour of flight, the pilot attempted a landing approach toward the northwest, targeting an unused area of the EPZR aerodrome near the Glider School building, located below the lower station of the Mount Żar cable car.
During the final approach, the pilot encountered air turbulence caused by wind interacting with tall trees on the windward side of the landing site. This turbulence caused the TRIPLE SEVEN ROOK S wing to collapse. Consequently, the pilot lost control of the aircraft and struck the ground while descending at high speed from an altitude of approximately 15 meters. The impact resulted in serious injuries to the pilot, who was subsequently airlifted to a hospital by an LPR helicopter.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the flight conditions, the pilot's experience level, and the aerodynamic impact of the surrounding terrain on the paraglider's stability during the landing phase.