What happened
On August 9, 2020, a training flight was taking place near Radziechowy, Poland. The flight involved a student pilot operating a Mac Para Progress 2-33 paraglider under the supervision of an instructor. The takeoff point was located on a hill, with the intended landing area situated approximately 70 meters below the launch site.
During the student's twelfth flight of the day, the aircraft successfully launched but subsequently drifted off course. Despite receiving specific instructions via radio from the supervising instructor, the student pilot failed to adjust the flight path. As a result, the paraglider wing struck a tree, causing the wing to deform and the flight to lose all forward momentum. The student pilot fell approximately 7 to 8 meters through tree branches before hitting the ground. The pilot reported spinal pain, necessitating an emergency response from the Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue (GOPR) and subsequent medical evacuation by an Air Ambulance helicopter to a hospital.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact and the student's response to instructor commands. The PKBWL examined the communication between the instructor and the student, the flight path deviation, and the physical circumstances of the landing site.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of situational awareness by the student pilot.
- Contributing factors included the student's limited flight experience.
- The student failed to react appropriately to radio commands issued by the instructor during the flight.