What happened
On January 21, 2007, at approximately 16:30, a private pilot was operating a paramotor (Reflex wing with a 25 hp Simonini engine) at the Persan aerodrome. The pilot had arrived at the airfield earlier that morning to fly with other practitioners, but unfavorable weather conditions—including wind gusts up to 27 knots—had forced the group to wait for improvements.
As the wind subsided around 16:00, the pilot proceeded to a takeoff site located at the northeast end of a disused runway. During the takeoff run, the pilot began with the engine at idle and the wing positioned behind the body. As the wing inflated and reached a vertical position, the pilot increased engine power. However, the pilot subsequently lost control of the aircraft's trajectory and was carried toward an artificial earthen mound approximately 2.5 meters high. Believing the obstacle could be cleared, the pilot maintained full engine power, resulting in a collision with the mound. The aircraft came to a rest on one of the slopes.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the takeoff run and the pilot's physical state. Investigators examined the flight path and compared the pilot's intended trajectory with the actual path taken, noting that the pilot typically avoided this specific obstacle during previous flights. It was also noted that another pilot had successfully taken off minutes earlier by significantly shifting their starting point to the southeast.
Medical testing was conducted following the accident. A blood alcohol test performed two hours after the event revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 1.73 g/L.