What happened
On August 15, 2025, at approximately 14:00 local time, a mid-air collision occurred in the coastal area of Rinconada, near Antofagara, Chile. The incident involved two unpowered ultralight (UL) aircraft—specifically paragliders—participating in a local paragliding gathering. During the flight, the two aircraft collided, causing one end of the wing of the two-seat paraglider to collapse. This loss of aerodynamic stability triggered a spiral descent, known as a "U-turn," which ultimately forced the aircraft to impact the terrain.
The impact occurred at the base of a 24-meter cliff characterized by steep, rocky, and sandy terrain. The pilot and the passenger aboard the two-seat aircraft sustained serious injuries. The pilot of the second, single-seat paraglider was uninjured, and their aircraft remained undamaged following the encounter.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the equipment and environmental conditions present at the time of the accident. The two-seat aircraft, an Ozone Magnum3, was inspected by officials on-site. While the wing and harness were found to be in good condition, some harness straps were severed during the rescue operations. The emergency parachute on this aircraft was not deployed during the incident. The second aircraft, a Magic 2 M, was inspected via photographic evidence; investigators noted that this specific wing was not registered with the DGAC, though the equipment appeared structurally sound.
Meteorological data from the Chilean Meteorological Service indicated that at the time of the collision, the area was experiencing a transition in wind conditions. While earlier reports suggested light northerly winds, the most recent METAR data for the Antofagasta area recorded prevailing southern winds between 9 and 13 knots.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a mid-air collision between two paragliders during an organized flight event.
- The collision caused a partial wing collapse on the two-seat aircraft, leading to an uncontrolled descent.
- The terrain at the impact site consisted of a steep 80-degree slope of rock and sand.
- The emergency parachute of the affected aircraft was not utilized during the descent.