Accident Details
On 5 July 2025, a paraglider pilot launched from Meckin Kamen, Krusevo, at an altitude of 1410 m at 13:04 local time. The flight lasted 2 hours and 5 minutes, covering approximately 47 km and reaching a maximum altitude of 2776 m. The accident occurred at 15:09 west of Prilep, 1.2 km from a marble plant and 700 m north of the regional road Prilep-Krusevo. The impact site was an uncultivated field with tall grass.
Pilot Information
The pilot was an Indian male, born 31 August 1972, holding a valid FAI license number 438523. He had over 20 years of paragliding experience, was an instructor with his own school, and had competed in many countries. He had flown in Macedonia approximately ten times prior.
Paraglider Information
The paraglider was an OZONE ENZO 3, category CCC, manufactured on 20 September 2024. The harness was a GIN GENIE RACE 5. The aircraft was equipped with a GPS device (Air 3). The equipment was in good condition before the accident; damage found was caused by the impact.
Meteorological Conditions
Meteorological conditions were favorable for paragliding, with wind predominantly from the north-northeast at 5 to 15 km/h. Thermal activity ranged from 2 to 5 m/s, allowing altitudes up to approximately 3000 m above sea level.
Accident Sequence
According to the GPS tracklog, the pilot arrived near the accident site at 15:06 at an altitude of 863 m. He then climbed in a thermal column to 1068 m before beginning a descent. The descent was consistent with a witness report: the paraglider fell at a high speed (10 to 18 m/s) in rotation, with the wing and pilot in the same plane, typical of a steep spiral descent.
Cause
The most probable cause of the accident was a loss of control of the paraglider in a thermal column, resulting in the wing losing shape and suffering collapses. This led to a steep spiral descent (autorotation) that the pilot was unable to control, and the paraglider fell to the ground in that configuration. A contributing factor was the advanced CCC class of the wing.