What happened
On April 24, 2020, at approximately 14:00 local time, a paraglider pilot attempted a recreational foot launch (alpine-style) at Park Skierbieszowski near Iłowca, Poland. After performing pre-flight inspections of the wing and lines, the pilot initiated the launch. As the Mac Para Illusion 26 wing rose above his head, it lifted the pilot approximately 1 meter above the ground.
Before the pilot could rotate his body to face the direction of flight, the wing drifted backward approximately 1.5 meters. During this phase, the wing tilted to the right and began moving in that direction. The pilot subsequently struck the ground, and the wing continued to drag him several meters across the terrain before finally settling into nearby bushes. Emergency services arrived at the scene and deployed an air ambulance to transport the pilot to the hospital, where he was treated for serious injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of the launch and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation established that the weather was sunny with winds between 4-5 m/s. The aircraft, a 2018 Mac Para Illusion 26, and the harness, a 2018 Sky Reverse 4, were both within their inspection periods. The investigation examined the pilot's movements during the critical seconds of the takeoff and the impact of localized atmospheric conditions on the wing's stability.