What happened
On June 26, 2019, at approximately 12:12 LMT, a pilot launched an Ozone Mantra M6 paraglider from the slopes of Jaworzyna Krynicka in Krynica-Zdrój, Poland. The flight was a recreational operation conducted under visual meteorological conditions with clear skies and a light southwesterly wind of approximately 2 m/s.
During the flight, the pilot attempted to locate thermal lift near the gondola lift area but was unable to find suitable thermals. Consequently, the pilot decided to land on a meadow located below the lower station of the cable car. While the landing area appeared clear of obstacles, the pilot encountered an unseen ditch during the final phase of the landing. The impact resulted in serious injuries to the pilot, who required emergency medical transport via helicopter to a hospital.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation confirmed that the pilot was fully qualified, holding a paragliding pilot certificate (PGP) with 475 total flight hours. Testing confirmed the pilot was not under the influence of alcohol. The investigation focused on the terrain and meteorological conditions at the time of the landing, specifically examining the visibility of the landing site and the impact of local wind patterns.
Findings
- The pilot landed in a ditch that was not visible from the air.
- The presence of tall grass, approximately 1 meter in height, likely obscured the terrain irregularity.
- The presence of high trees to the right of the landing direction may have created rotor turbulence due to the wind blowing from the slope, which contributed to the uncontrolled descent into the ditch.
- Thermal activity present in the area at the time may have also influenced the flight dynamics.