What happened
During cruise flight at 5,000 feet MSL within Class E airspace, a Cessna 208B collided with a powered paraglider. The two aircraft were traveling on a converging course at a 90-degree angle with a closing speed of approximately 164 knots. Video and ADS-B data indicate that the powered paraglider operator attempted an avoidance maneuver roughly six seconds before the impact, after noticing the approaching aircraft. However, the powered paraglider struck the right wing leading edge of the Cessna 208B just outboard of the lift strut. This impact caused the outer 10 feet of the Cessna's right wing to separate. Following the collision, the Cessna 208B entered a steep, inverted, nose-down descent and struck the terrain at a high vertical speed. The powered paraglider operator was found separated from their harness, with the paraglider wing and emergency parachute located several miles from the primary wreckage site.
Findings
Investigation into the collision suggests that the pilot of the Cessna 208B likely failed to detect the powered paraglider in time to perform an evasive maneuver. While the paraglider was visible to the pilot, the complex terrain in the background and low visual contrast likely delayed recognition. Although the paraglider was visible to the operator eight seconds before impact, the window for effective avoidance was extremely narrow.
Crucially, the powered paraglider was not visible to air traffic control because it was not required to carry a transponder or ADS-B OUT equipment in Class E airspace. Neither aircraft was equipped with ADS-B IN or traffic alert systems to provide cockpit warnings. While toxicological analysis of the Cessna pilot's muscle tissue revealed trace amounts of ethanol and the presence of the medication quetiapine, investigators determined these factors were unlikely to have contributed to the accident, as the pilot likely lacked sufficient time to see and avoid the obstacle regardless of any physiological state.