What happened
On August 9, 1999, at approximately 15:20, a group of three students attempted a paragliding launch at the Siosvaara south slope in Enontekiö. The group was using a method known as a ground tow (rukkashinaus), where a tow person runs down a slope to lift the wing into the air.
The pilot, a 20-year-old student with no prior paragliding training or license, was wearing a harness that lacked essential safety features such as a back protector, helmet, or reserve parachute. The tow line used was a 2 mm thick polypropylene rope, which had been shortened by coiling the excess onto a reel to create a handle.
As the launch commenced, increasing wind speeds caused the EDEL ZX 21 paraglider to rise higher than previous attempts. In an effort to manage the ascent, the takeoff assistant and the tow person attempted to pull the line downward. Panicked by the rapid ascent, the pilot pulled the brake lines fully toward the seat. This action, combined with the increasing tension, caused the thin tow rope to snap at an altitude of approximately 10 meters. The paraglider entered a stall, and the pilot fell onto the terrain, striking her head and sustaining severe injuries that resulted in functional impairments on the left side of her body.
The investigation
The investigation examined the experience levels of the participants, the equipment used, and the environmental conditions. The pilot had only approximately five minutes of total flight time and no formal training. The tow person, while a licensed glider pilot, had no specific paragliding or towing qualifications and only 10 minutes of total paragliding flight time. The takeoff assistant had no prior aviation experience.
Technical analysis of the equipment revealed that the 2 mm polypropylene rope was far too thin for the task. Stress tests conducted later showed the rope snapped under loads as low as 45 kg when a knot was present. Furthermore, the harness was found to be a lightweight model lacking a reserve parachute, a tow release mechanism, or a knife for cutting the line in an emergency.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the tow line and the subsequent stall of the paraglider.
- The wind conditions at the site were gusty, ranging from 6 to 9 m/s, which was too strong for the participants' level of experience.
- The pilot, tow person, and assistant all lacked the necessary training, licenses, and knowledge of paragliding operations.
- The use of an undersized, 2 mm polypropylene rope was highly dangerous and insufficient for the required tension.
- The pilot's instinctive reaction to pull the brakes during the ascent increased the tension on the line and contributed to the stall.
- The lack of personal protective equipment, specifically a helmet and back protector, contributed to the severity of the pilot's injuries.