What happened
On April 26, 2020, a paraglider pilot initiated a training flight from the northern launch site on Mount Żar in Międzybrodzie Żywieckie. After more than an hour of flight utilizing thermals, the pilot began a descent toward a planned landing area located on a meadow east of the Górna Szkoła Szybowcowa (GSS) hangars.
As the pilot approached the landing site, just before reaching a tree line, the Axis Vega 5 wing experienced a sudden increase in sink rate. This caused the glider to descend below the height of the treetops. During the passage, the glider's lines became entangled with tree branches. This interaction led to a deformation of the wing and a significant loss of airspeed, resulting in the pilot falling approximately 8 meters onto an asphalt road near the airfield. The pilot sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital by Air Ambulance.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation established that the pilot was fully qualified and held the necessary certifications for the flight. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was not under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol content of 0.00 mg/l. Furthermore, the technical condition of the paraglider was found to be sound and did not contribute to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a pilot error regarding the planning of the landing approach, specifically the failure to account for local atmospheric conditions.
- The investigation identified the presence of vertical air movements (updrafts/downdrafts) near the tree line as a contributing factor that likely induced the increased sink rate.