What happened
On August 31, 2019, an individual was operating a paraglider near the village of Bieliniec, close to Nisko, Poland. During the flight, the pilot lost consciousness. The flight ended when the paraglider became entangled in medium-voltage electrical power lines. Emergency services, including the fire department, responded to the scene and successfully removed both the pilot and the equipment from the lines.
Following the incident, the pilot was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation. Medical examinations revealed that the pilot had sustained burns covering approximately 15% of their body.
The investigation
The investigation established that the individual performing the flight did not possess the necessary qualifications or licenses to operate a paraglider. While the pilot claimed to have completed training several years prior, they were unable to produce any documentation to verify the completion of such a course.
Due to the fact that the flight was being conducted by an unlicensed individual, the State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL) determined that the event did not meet the criteria for a formal aviation accident investigation under Article 135, paragraph 6, point 3 of the Polish Aviation Law.