What happened
On May 24, 2021, at approximately 06:05 LMT, a pilot departed from Michałków Airport (EPOM) for a training flight using an Ozone Freeride 17 powered paraglider. After several minutes of flight, while positioned over the village of Franklinów, the pilot initiated a turn back toward the airfield.
At 06:45 LMT, while flying at a low altitude, the aircraft struck the upper conductor of a medium-voltage power line. The impact caused the line to break and resulted in a rapid loss of airspeed, leading to the paraglider and the pilot falling into a nearby agricultural field. An eyewitness provided immediate first aid before emergency services arrived. The pilot was subsequently transported to a hospital via helicopter by the Air Ambulance service.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the flight path and environmental conditions at the time of the impact. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held valid powered paraglider (PPG) qualifications and maintained active third-party liability insurance. The inquiry examined the flight altitude, the visibility conditions, and the sequence of maneuvers leading to the contact with the electrical infrastructure.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was operating the aircraft at an insufficient altitude over a populated area, which was in violation of established flight regulations.
- Sunlight shining directly into the pilot's eyes acted as a contributing factor, as it likely hindered the ability to visually detect the power lines.
- The impact with the electrical line caused significant damage to both the paraglider wing and the motor unit, and resulted in serious injuries to the pilot.