What happened
On September 16, 2018, at approximately 14:50 LMT, a Dudek OrcaXX-41 Cabrio paramotor departed from a landing field in Czechy, Poland, for a visual flight carrying a pilot and one passenger. The flight proceeded over the undulating terrain of the Kraków-Częstochowa Jura.
During the flight, the pilot maintained varying altitudes while the passenger took photographs. At an altitude of approximately 15 to 20 meters, the pilot initiated a right-hand turn near the town of Owczary. During this maneuver, the paramotor wing collapsed. Due to the extremely low altitude at the time of the collapse, the pilot was unable to react or reinflate the wing before the aircraft struck the ground.
First responders and witnesses at the scene attempted to assist the passenger, who sustained serious injuries, while the pilot sustained fatal injuries at the scene.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined weather data from the Olewin meteorological station, located 25 km northwest of the accident site. The investigation analyzed the aircraft's equipment, including the Dudek wing, the Airone.Pro Unique Phoenix trolley, and the Polini engine setup. The commission also reviewed the pilot's qualifications and the flight's compliance with Polish aviation regulations regarding minimum flight altitudes.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to fly at an insufficient altitude during turbulent conditions, which left no margin for recovery when the wing collapsed.
- Significant turbulence was present at low altitudes, driven by thermal activity and wind. Weather observations indicated shifting winds and cumulus clouds, which are characteristic of convective activity.
- The flight was conducted below the minimum regulatory altitude for paramotor operations over land.
- The terrain, being hilly, contributed to the development of turbulence from both wind and thermal currents.
- The Dudek OrcaXX-41 Cabrio is a classic wing design without a self-stabilizing profile, making it more susceptible to collapses in turbulent air compared to more advanced profiles.