What happened
On 7 September 2024, a pilot was conducting a private coastal soaring flight near The Lady’s Stairs in Skerries, Co. Dublin. After launching from the cliff top, the pilot initiated a right-hand turn, intending to fly parallel to the coastline. During this maneuver, the BGD, base-ML Paraglider began to lose altitude unexpectedly.
In an attempt to regain lift, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft closer to the cliff face. However, the canopy began to scrape and snag against the vertical surface of the cliff. This interaction with the terrain caused a significant distraction as the pilot looked overhead to check the canopy, leaving insufficient time or height to execute an emergency landing on the nearby beach. The aircraft subsequently impacted the rocky area at Barnageeragh beach, resulting in serious injuries to the pilot. The pilot was subsequently airlifted to a hospital by an Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation examined the aircraft, the harness, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the occurrence. The investigation confirmed that the paraglider's canopy, lines, and harness showed no mechanical defects or damage prior to the impact that would have contributed to the descent.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's flight planning and experience. The pilot had approximately 55 hours of total flight time. Meteorological data indicated that while the pilot had anticipated a change in wind direction, the actual wind speed at the time of the accident was approximately 3 knots. The investigation also noted that the harness used was an ultra-light model lacking any impact protection or stiffener boards.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of lift and subsequent descent while flying in light wind conditions.
- The pilot's attempt to maintain flight by maneuvering close to the cliff face led to the canopy snagging on the terrain.
- The pilot's attention was diverted by the canopy snagging, which prevented an effective recovery maneuver.
- The wind speed was significantly lower than the 19-26 km/h range typically recommended for effective ridge soaring, which can result in a very narrow lift band close to the cliff.
- The use of an ultra-light harness provided no protection against the impact forces sustained during the crash.