Factual Information
On 2 November 2023 at 15:13 UTC, a hang glider of type Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5 Pro, registration OM-H462, collided with trees during a landing maneuver near the landing area of Podkonice, Slovakia. The pilot, a 69-year-old Slovak citizen, had taken off from the Podkonické Pleše launch site approximately four minutes earlier, covering a distance of 2.4 km at an average speed of 38 km/h with a descent rate of 1.7 m/s. The aircraft sustained minor damage, some of which occurred during its recovery from the tree canopy.
The pilot held a flight crew license issued by the LAA SR in 1993, valid until 5 September 2023, with a medical certificate confirming fitness from 5 September 2022. His total flight experience was 1,628 hours, with 2.5 hours flown since the last license extension.
Weather at the time was cloudy (8/10 to 9/10 coverage) with Stratocumulus, Altocumulus, and Altostratus clouds. Surface wind at 10 m height was from the southeast at 4 to 8 m/s, gusting to 12 m/s, influenced by local orography. Temperature was 9 to 10°C. Civil twilight began at 15:22, and the accident occurred during that period.
Analysis
The pilot flew a direct path to the intended landing area. During the landing approach, he encountered turbulent conditions with variable wind direction and speed near the ground due to forested terrain. The sun was setting, potentially reducing visibility of obstacles. The hang glider struck trees at an estimated speed of 50 km/h, after which the glider rotated against the direction of flight and became suspended 8 to 10 m above ground with the pilot hanging head-down.
Autopsy determined the cause of death as positional asphyxia due to the pilot being suspended head-down in the tree. Toxicological tests showed no alcohol or drugs. There were no pre-existing medical conditions that could have contributed to the accident. All injuries occurred before death and showed signs of vitality.
Survival aspects indicated that the pilot's death could theoretically have been prevented if his body had been freed from the tree within minutes of the accident and professional medical assistance provided promptly.
Conclusions
The exact reason why the pilot struck the trees during landing could not be determined from available information. A combination of factors likely influenced the landing maneuver, including turbulence, changing wind conditions, and the onset of twilight.