What happened
On the afternoon of April 6, 2019, a motorcyclist traveling through an inactive gravel quarry in Łódź discovered the body of a man wearing a paragliding harness on an embankment. Upon checking the individual's vital signs, the motorcyclist determined the person was deceased and alerted emergency services. Medical personnel confirmed the death at the scene.
Investigations revealed that the pilot, a 3-year-old male holding valid paragliding qualifications, had gone flying earlier that morning but had not informed anyone of his intended flight location. At the time the body was discovered, the pilot was likely the only person present at the quarry.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the scene and the equipment recovered by the police. The investigation found that the meteorological conditions during the day were favorable (VMC) and did not contribute to the accident. The pilot was not under the influence of alcohol.
During the inspection of the paraglider, investigators found no damage to the wing itself. However, it was noted that the lines connecting the wing to the harness had been severed. Furthermore, the brake lines and handles were missing from the scene; these items had been removed along with the pilot's body and subsequently went missing while the body was at the hospital.
Findings
- The pilot was a qualified paraglider pilot.
- The weather conditions were good and did not play a role in the event.
- The cause of the accident could not be determined due to the lack of witnesses and the loss of critical equipment (brake lines and handles) from the investigation chain of custody.