What happened
On June 2, 2019, at approximately 18:30 LMT, a paragliding accident occurred on private property in Niegoszcz, near Koszalin. A group of paragliders had gathered in the area to conduct joint flights. During the sequence of events, the pilot initiated a right-hand turn shortly after takeoff. During this maneuver, a gust of wind caused the paraglider wing to collapse (tuck). Consequently, the paraglider and the pilot fell to the ground from an estimated altitude of 5 meters.
Other pilots present at the site heard the impact and rushed to the scene, where they found the pilot injured. Emergency medical services were summoned, and the pilot was transported to the Provincial Hospital in Koszalin for treatment of serious injuries to the hip and spine.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation established that the pilot was a highly experienced flyer with approximately 20 years of flight experience. The equipment involved in the accident was new and had only been used a few times prior to the event. The investigation confirmed that the equipment was in functional condition and ruled out any technical failure or third-party interference. Furthermore, blood alcohol testing of the pilot returned a result of 0.00mg/l.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was pilot error in flight technique, specifically performing a turn at an insufficient altitude.
- A wind gust acted as a contributing factor, causing the wing to collapse during the low-altitude maneuver.