What happened
On April 21, 2006, at approximately 15:10 UTC, a solo sport flight involving a Gradient Avax RS/26 paraglider ended in a fatal accident at the Kozákov landing area. During the approach phase to the landing site, the pilot entered a right-hand spiral dive at an altitude of approximately 50 meters AGL.
In an attempt to recover from the maneuver, the pilot pulled the left brake. However, due to the high kinetic energy involved, the pilot was pulled above the canopy, causing the wing to collapse over the pilot. The pilot fell vertically to the ground at approximately 2..'0 meters AGL. The impact resulted in one fatality. Although the pilot attempted to deploy the reserve parachute, the altitude was insufficient for the parachute to fully inflate.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the pilot held a valid Class B sport pilot license and a valid medical certificate. The Gradient Avax RS/26 paraglider was in good technical condition, with no defects found in the lines, fabric, or harness that contributed to the accident. Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable, with light winds and decreasing thermal activity.
Investigators noted that while the pilot had significant flight experience, the aircraft used was a Category C competition-grade paraglider. The investigation focused on the pilot's maneuvers during the spiral dive and the subsequent loss of control.
Findings
- The pilot was performing a high-performance maneuver (a spiral dive) that exceeded their training level.
- The pilot was not trained or authorized to fly Category C paragliders.
- The pilot failed to manage the flight characteristics of a Category C paraglider, leading to a canopy collapse during an attempt to recover from a spiral dive.
- The high kinetic energy during the recovery attempt caused the pilot to be pulled above the wing, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable.