What happened
On 18 September 2022, a pilot attempted a launch from an agricultural field near Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, using a powered hang glider. The aircraft, consisting of an Airwave Magic 166 wing and a Swedish Aerosport Mosquito engine harness, was being operated as a powered unit. Shortly after the pilot transitioned into the pod harness during the takeoff run, the aircraft experienced a sudden jerk, veered to the left, and pitched downward. The flight lasted less than 100 metres before the aircraft impacted the ground. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The AAIU examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses at the scene. Investigators found that the engine continued to run following the impact. While laboratory analysis of the fuel revealed the presence of water, dirt, and age-related degradation, the engine's continued operation suggested that fuel quality was not the primary cause of the crash. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's manual, which explicitly stated that the Magic 166 wing should not be flown with auxiliary power. Additionally, the investigation looked into the pilot's credentials and the aircraft's regulatory status, noting that the pilot lacked a specific license for powered hang gliding and the aircraft was not registered.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a loss of control shortly after launch.
- Localized turbulence, potentially caused by the nearby sloping terrain and hedgerows, may have destabilized the aircraft.
- An uncoordinated roll input—where the pilot fails to move the engine mass in sync with their body—could have altered the thrust vector, leading to an unrecoverable turn.
- The aircraft was not registered, and the pilot did not hold the required license for powered hang gliding.
- The manufacturer's manual for the wing prohibited the use of auxiliary power.