What happened
On October 2, 2011, at approximately 12:45 UTC, a paraglider accident occurred at a landing site near Javorový vrch, located in Třinec-Oldřichovice. The pilot was performing a landing approach into the wind when the aircraft entered an area of turbulence caused by nearby obstacles, including trees and buildings. This turbulence caused the Nova Phelix 23/S to drop suddenly, resulting in the pilot's lower limb making contact with low-voltage overhead power lines.
Following an electrical arc, the pilot lost sufficient lift and impacted the ground from a height of approximately 12 meters, roughly 20 meters from the power line pole. The pilot sustained one minor injury and was transported by air ambulance to the University Hospital in Ostrava. The paraglider itself remained undamaged, and no damage was reported to the electrical infrastructure.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the pilot was a Polish national who did not possess a valid pilot license. Furthermore, the pilot lacked the required documentation, including a valid technical certificate for the paraglider and third-party liability insurance. The investigation also noted that the pilot's flying experience was limited to a "second level" of training in Poland and was insufficient for independent flight.
Technical inspection of the Nova Phelix 23/S at the scene confirmed that the mechanical condition of the paraglider did not contribute to the accident. Witnesses at the landing site provided consistent accounts of the pilot flying into the turbulent zone near the edge of the landing area.
Findings
- The pilot lacked sufficient experience to safely execute a landing approach independently.
- The pilot entered a turbulent area without maintaining an adequate altitude reserve.
- The pilot failed to maintain control of the paraglider while operating in turbulent air.
- The pilot was operating without a valid pilot license or required third-party insurance.