What happened
On December 16, 2023, a mid-air collision occurred between two unpowered ultralight aircraft (paragliders) in the Las Vizcalas area, Puente Alto, Metropolitan Region. The two pilots were engaged in recreational ridge soaring, departing from Cerro El Banco with the intention of landing at a local flight center.
The pilot of the first aircraft, a Mac Para Muse 5-29, was flying on a Northbound trajectory with the ridge to their right. Simultaneously, the pilot of the second aircraft, a Skywalk Mescal 6, was flying Southbound with the ridge to their left. During the maneuver, the legs of the second pilot struck the canopy of the first aircraft. This contact caused the canopy of the first aircraft to collapse and led to an entanglement of both pilots. Both aircraft lost control and plummeted to the ground. The impact resulted in two serious injuries.
The investigation
DGAC Chile examined the flight paths, aircraft maintenance records, and meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators reviewed onboard footage from a third-party witness (a flight instructor) and a helmet camera, which corroborated the flight trajectories and the sequence of the collision.
The investigation also looked into the regulatory status of the aircraft. It was determined that neither the Mac Para Muse 5-29 nor the Skywalk Mescal 6 had been registered or inspected by the DGAC, as the owners had not yet completed the mandatory registration process required by regulation DAN 104.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the mid-air collision between the two unpowered ultralight aircraft, which triggered a loss of control and subsequent ground impact.
- A significant contributing factor was the failure to adhere to right-of-way regulations; the pilot of the second aircraft failed to yield the right-of-way as required when flying with the ridge to their left.
- The collision caused the canopy of the first aircraft to collapse and resulted in the two pilots becoming entangled.
- While the pilot of the first aircraft successfully deployed an emergency parachute, which mitigated the impact energy, the pilot of the second aircraft was unable to deploy their ventral emergency parachute because it became entangled in the canopy of the first aircraft.
- Meteorological conditions, including wind and visibility, were found to be suitable for flight and were not contributing factors.
Safety action
Following the investigation, the DGAC Chile emphasized the need for flight centers and operators to review collision prevention procedures, particularly in high-traffic soaring zones. The authority also reiterated the necessity for all unpowered ultralight operators to comply with mandatory registration and control procedures under regulation DAN 104.