What happened
On September 12, 2019, a paramotor flight took place in the vicinity of Mikołów, Poland. The flight began at approximately 16:05 local time, after the pilot had completed pre-flight checks and warmed up the engine. The flight proceeded normally for approximately 44 minutes, with the pilot maintaining altitudes between 150 and 200 meters.
During the final phase of the flight, the pilot descended to an altitude of approximately 30 to 50 meters. While executing a right-hand turn at an altitude of about 30 meters, the aircraft transitioned from a 35-degree bank into an uncontrolled spiral. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground. Witnesses at the scene observed the engine silence before hearing the impact. The pilot was found unconscious in the harness; despite immediate resuscitation efforts by bystanders, medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation utilized helmet-mounted camera footage recorded by the pilot to analyze the flight sequence. The analysis confirmed that the pilot had performed all necessary pre-flight inspections, including checking the lines, risers, and wing. The footage showed that the pilot remained calm during the descent and the onset of the spiral, though he did not attempt to recover the aircraft or visually monitor the wing's position. Notably, just before impact, the pilot was seen pulling the right brake, but his hand was not on the throttle lever.
Physical examination of the equipment revealed that the Pegasus wing (Class A) was in good technical condition, properly attached to the harness, and that all lines and trimmers were correctly configured and undamaged. The engine was found to be functional at the time of impact, as evidenced by propeller damage to the basket frame. The autopsy determined that the pilot died from multiple injuries resulting from the impact with the hard ground.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an uncontrolled spiral during a right-hand turn at a very low altitude.
- The transition from a controlled bank to a spiral occurred once the turn angle exceeded 90 degrees.
- The pilot did not attempt to execute recovery maneuvers or visually monitor the wing during the spiral phase.