Accident
On 20 October 2024, at approximately 11:00 local time, a tandem paraglider (type BIGOLDEN 4.42) launched from the Bunloc chairlift area near Săcele, Brașov County, for a recreational flight. After 5–7 minutes, while above the Bunloc residential area, the pilot slipped from the flight harness and fell from a height of about 50–70 meters onto a street at coordinates N 45°36′30″, E 025°40′05″. The paraglider was about 600 meters from the intended landing zone at the time. The passenger, following instructions from pilots at the landing area, maneuvered the paraglider and landed without further incident. The passenger was uninjured.
Investigation
The investigation was conducted by the Romanian Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority (AIAS). The pilot, a 47-year-old male, held a valid license and medical self-declaration, with 650 flight hours and 1700 launches. He had been authorized for tandem flights since 10 December 2023 and had obtained a tandem instructor qualification on 25 September 2024. The paraglider, manufactured by GRADIENT s.r.o. in 2018, had a total of 3 hours 30 minutes of flight time. The safety systems on the pilot's and passenger's harnesses were found to be in perfect working condition. No weather factors influenced the event.
Video recordings and witness statements showed that the pilot did not have the leg straps and abdominal strap of his harness fastened at the moment of launch. The investigation determined that the safety buckles could not open under tension during flight, and the accident could not have resulted from accidental or intentional release after launch.
Probable Cause
The accident occurred due to improper use of the safety system during flight, resulting in the pilot slipping out of the harness.