What happened
On July 23, 2021, a paraglider pilot was participating in a Simulated Incident in Flight (SIV) safety training session over the Paczkowski Reservoir near Paczkow, Poland. The flight, conducted as part of a professional training program, began with the pilot being towed by a motorboat to an altitude of approximately 600 m AGL.
After detaching from the tow, the pilot performed several maneuvers under radio instruction from an instructor on the ground, including autorotations and emergency turns. At an altitude of approximately 120 m, the pilot began performing wingovers. During the third wingover, at an altitude of roughly 50 m, the left side of the Nova Mentor 6 wing deformed. This deformation triggered a rotation that the pilot was unable to arrest. The aircraft struck the water surface while in a right-hand rotation. The pilot, wearing a Woody Valley X-Rated 5 pod harness, struck the water with legs extended, resulting in serious injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the flight sequence via video footage recorded during the training. The investigation reviewed the pilot's physical condition, noting he had donated blood the previous day and had traveled long distances, which may have contributed to fatigue. The investigation also analyzed the instructor's radio commands and the technical aspects of the equipment, including the impact of the pod harness's rigid structure during the water impact.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was performing a wingover maneuver at an insufficient altitude.
- The pilot failed to deploy the reserve parachute.
- A likely loss of situational awareness by the pilot prevented the correct execution of instructor commands.
- Delayed radio commands from the instructor during the third wingover contributed to the wing deformation.
- Physical factors, including fatigue and physiological weakness following recent blood donation, may have impaired the pilot's performance.
- The impact was exacerbated by the pilot striking the water with extended legs while using a pod harness, which caused significant inertial forces due to the harness's rigid footplate.
Safety action
- The commission recommends that SIV training programs be updated to include specific protocols regarding the use of life jackets, water entry techniques, and reserve parachute deployment, as well as establishing minimum altitude limits for specific maneuvers.