Incident Details
On 2 June 2019 at approximately 10:49 UTC, a motor glider and a paraglider collided above Hirschpleiskopf in the municipality of St. Anton am Arlberg, Tyrol, Austria. The motor glider, a DG-400, was operated under visual flight rules (VFR) and was in gliding flight at the time. The paraglider, a Gin Carrera S, was also operating under VFR. The collision occurred as the motor glider was circling in a thermal updraft with a bank angle of about 60°, forward speed of 110 km/h, and a climb rate of 1.5 m/s. The paraglider was flying westward at an altitude of approximately 2700 m.
Post-Collision Events
After the collision, the motor glider pitched forward by about 45°. The pilot regained control and returned to Altenrhein Airport in Switzerland, where he landed safely. The paraglider pilot reported that the canopy was partially torn by the impact. He deployed his reserve parachute and sustained serious injuries due to compression following the reserve opening.
Injuries and Damage
The paraglider pilot suffered serious injuries. The motor glider sustained damage to its propeller, left elevator, and left wing, among other components. The paraglider was partially torn.
Aircraft Information
The motor glider was a DG-400, manufactured by Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH, with Swiss registration. The paraglider was a Gin Carrera S. Both aircraft were privately owned and operated under VFR by day.
Flight History
The motor glider departed from Altenrhein Airport at approximately 09:20 UTC. The pilot flew over the Arlberg Pass and then approached a ridge east of St. Anton, where he entered a thermal. The paraglider had taken off earlier and was flying in the same area. The pilots did not see each other before the collision.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the accident was a result of a collision between the two aircraft. A contributing factor was the lack of or insufficient evasive maneuvers by both pilots.