What happened
On May 6, 2012, a group of individuals without valid pilot licenses attempted a paragliding demonstration in a field near Měrotín, near Olomouc. The equipment owner, a man with an expired paragliding license, performed several ground runs with a SKY Paragliders, Lift 28 to demonstrate the process to the group. Following this, he lent the equipment to a 21-year-old woman who intended to attempt a takeoff.
The woman was not wearing a helmet, and her harness lacked the required spinal protector. During her takeoff attempt, she initially reached a height of approximately 0.5 meters. However, a thermal gust caused the wing to lift unexpectedly to a height of about 5 meters. In response to the sudden ascent, the woman reacted by pulling sharply on the control lines, causing the wing to collapse. The resulting impact with the ground caused serious injuries, including head trauma, brain injury, and ankle fractures.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the takeoff location, a randomly selected field, was unsuitable due to the terrain's orientation relative to the wind. The investigation also found that the woman's weight (60–70 kg) was below the manufacturer's recommended minimum loading for the Lift 28, which can lead to unpredictable flight characteristics and increased susceptibility to collapses.
Technically, the paraglider was at the limit of its material service life and lacked a valid technical certificate. Furthermore, the harness used was found to be non-compliant with safety standards for training and lacked necessary structural safety features. The investigation also noted that the weather conditions, characterized by strong thermal activity, were unsuitable for beginners.
Findings
The accident was caused by a combination of several factors:
- The owner provided the paraglider to a person who had not completed required ground training and was not wearing a helmet.
- The aircraft's weight configuration was inadequate for the pilot's weight, leading to unstable flight behavior.
- An improper control input by the pilot during takeoff in conditions of strong thermal activity caused the wing to collapse.
- Unsuitable meteorological conditions and terrain features contributed to the instability of the flight.
Safety action
- The LAA ČR is to analyze this accident in its Pilot Bulletin to inform pilots without instructor licenses about the dangers of unprofessional instruction.
- The LAA ČR will present the findings of this investigation at seminars for inspectors, instructors, and the general paragliding community.