What happened
On August 31, 2011, a student pilot was conducting a supervised training flight near the Stichovice airfield. While performing maneuvers at an altitude of approximately 130 to 150 meters AGL, the pilot initiated a sharp left turn. During this maneuver, the AXIS Pluto Medium paramotor entered a left-hand descending spiral with the engine still at full power.
An instructor accompanying the flight recognized the danger and issued radio instructions to the pilot, commanding him to release the control lines and brake the wing to recover. However, the pilot failed to respond to these instructions. The aircraft continued in the spiral until it impacted the ground. Witnesses and the instructor immediately contacted emergency services and performed resuscitation efforts until the arrival of the Air Rescue Service, but the pilot succumbed to fatal injuries sustained in the impact.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the aircraft, the pilot's medical history, and the flight conditions. The technical inspection of the AXIS Pluto Medium revealed that the wing was in airworthy condition, with only minor damage found that was consistent with the ground impact. The engine unit sustained damage to the propeller and the fuel tank neck, but the controls remained functional.
Medical examinations of the pilot revealed no evidence of alcohol or toxic substances. While his recent medical certificate showed no signs of heart disease, a comprehensive forensic expert analysis identified significant underlying cardiac changes. These conditions could have caused acute pain or sudden loss of consciousness under the physical or psychological stress of the maneuver.
Findings
- The pilot's maneuver during a sharp turn led to the entry into a descending spiral.
- The pilot was unable to respond to the instructor's recovery instructions, likely due to an acute deterioration in his medical condition.
- The aircraft was mechanically sound and fully controllable prior to the impact.