History of Flight
On 24 September 2025, the paraglider pilot, a German national born on 25 May 2004, flew with his brother and friends on Mount Galičica. It was his second flight of the day at the same location; the first was a thermal flight lasting several hours. The pilot had also flown thermal flights in Kruševo in previous days.
Accident Sequence
According to GPS tracklog data, the pilot launched from the Galičica pass starting point at 1583 m elevation at 18:10 LT. The flight lasted 6 minutes, with the accident occurring at 18:16 LT. The flight was ridge soaring using dynamic lift from wind hitting the mountain. The maximum altitude reached was 1683 m. Around 18:15, the glider suddenly lost about 15 m of altitude, with horizontal speed decreasing drastically and vertical speed increasing. Immediately after, the glider began a left rotation, completing a full 360-degree turn before impact. During the descent, the vertical descent rate was 6–9 m/s. The tracklog ended at the impact site at 1599 m elevation.
Injuries
The pilot sustained fractures of the spinal column and ribs, as well as numerous contusions and bruises, according to information from the pilot's brother and medical personnel at Ohrid hospital.
Damage to Equipment
The paraglider and equipment were in good condition; the glider was relatively new (manufactured in 2022 with about 80 flight hours). Minor damage found was caused by the impact.
Pilot Information
The pilot was a male, German national, born 25 May 2004. He held a valid Austrian A license (no. 39198). He had 1.5 years of flying experience with 60–70 total flight hours. He had flown cross-country and thermic flights of several hours. On the wing flown at the time, he had about 20 hours.
Paraglider Information
The paraglider was a Gin Explorer, EN-B category. It was equipped with a reserve parachute (not activated), and a GPS XCtracer. The owner and operator were individuals.
Weather Conditions
According to witness statements and other pilots flying that day, meteorological conditions were favorable for paragliding. Earlier in the day, there were thermal conditions with high cloud base. At the time of the accident, near sunset, the atmosphere was calm with a west wind of 4–5 m/s, allowing ridge soaring/dynamic lift.
Analysis of the Accident
Based on tracklog and witness interviews, the pilot was flying close to the slope, characteristic of ridge soaring. After gaining 60–80 m altitude, he headed north along the terrain. While taking a phone to take photos and videos, he released the control lines. The glider experienced a sudden frontal collapse. The pilot did not have active control and his reaction was delayed and insufficient. The collapse led to an asymmetric opening and a left spiral dive. The pilot attempted to regain control but could not stabilize the glider before impact. Terrain features may have contributed to turbulence behind a ridge.
Conclusions
The accident involved a paraglider pilot who sustained serious spinal and rib injuries. The glider and equipment had no pre-impact damage. Meteorological conditions were favorable. The pilot was young with limited experience.
Findings
- Meteorological conditions were favorable for paragliding.
- The pilot did not pay sufficient attention to the flight, conditions, and control of the wing.
- The pilot sustained injuries to the spinal column, ribs, and other contusions.
Cause
Immediate cause: Loss of control of the paraglider after a frontal collapse during ridge soaring, leading to a steep spiral descent that the pilot could not control. Direct cause: The pilot was not actively controlling the paraglider; as he did not have the control commands in his hands, his reaction was delayed and incorrect. Factors: The pilot's inattention and limited experience.