What happened
On June 6, 2019, a pilot operating a powered paraglider performed two passes over a local festival area held in celebration of Children's Day near Świerkówiec/Mogilno. According to the pilot's statement, the first pass was conducted at an altitude of approximately 90 meters. During the second pass, which was flown at an altitude of approximately 30 meters, the aircraft encountered a lateral wind gust originating from the right side.
This gust caused the paraglider to veer to the left, directing the aircraft toward a group of trees. The paraglider's canopy became entangled in the treetops, leaving the aircraft suspended. The pilot was not injured during the incident.
The investigation
The PKBWL reviewed the circumstances surrounding the flight, noting that the flight occurred at an altitude significantly lower than the regulatory minimums for flying over crowds. Under existing regulations, powered paragliders are prohibited from flying over gatherings of people in the open air at altitudes lower than 150 meters (500 feet), except when necessary for takeoff or landing. Due to the flight occurring below this prescribed altitude, the Commission opted not to conduct a full investigation into the occurrence.