What happened
On 9 July 2022, a pilot operating an Axis Comet 3 paraglider launched from a location approximately 600 meters northwest of the Nine Stones car park near Mt. Leinster, Co. Carlow. After an hour of flight, the pilot began a descent toward the landing area. During the final stages of the flight, the pilot realized they lacked sufficient altitude to safely clear overhead power lines located near the car park.
To avoid the lines, the pilot attempted to land on an adjacent slope. Believing the wind was blowing from a north or northeast direction, the pilot initiated a 140-degree left turn to land into the wind. During this maneuver, the aircraft encountered a sudden increase in sink rate and a significant surge in forward speed, reaching approximately 73 km/h. Despite applying wing-brakes to mitigate the momentum, the pilot swung forward under the canopy and struck the up-sloping terrain south of the road, resulting in one person sustaining serious back injuries.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation utilized data from the pilot's variometer to reconstruct the flight path and analyze the descent. The investigation also included an examination of the paraglider wing, harness, and control lines by a subject matter expert, which revealed no mechanical defects or damage to the equipment.
Investigators also reviewed meteorological data from Met Éireann and analyzed the pilot's flight experience. The pilot, holding a 'Para Pro 3' rating with an estimated 170 to 210 hours of flight time, had noted that weather conditions had weakened significantly during the final minutes of the flight.