What happened
On May 1, 2014, at approximately 17:20 UTC, a paraglider accident occurred near Velký Javorník. The flight involved a MAGUS XC-21 paraglider operated by a private individual.
The pilot had previously attempted a takeoff earlier that day, which was aborted after a 10-meter run. Following this unsuccessful attempt, the pilot returned to the original launch position to prepare for a second attempt. During the second takeoff, the pilot slipped out of the harness. Despite a desperate attempt to hold onto the lines with her hands, she fell into a forested area approximately 100 meters southeast of the Velký Javorník summit. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The paraglider continued flying after the separation, eventually becoming entangled in the treetops of three trees near Malý Javorník at an altitude of 20–25 meters.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation focused on the integrity of the harness and the sequence of events leading to the separation. The examination of the MAGUS XC-21 harness revealed that the seat was equipped with an integrated system where leg straps and chest straps are connected via two buckles. The harness featured a neoprene aerodynamic cover that completely obscured the pilot's legs and the attachment points of the straps.
Investigators found that once the pilot is fully secured and the neoprene flaps are closed, there is no visual way to confirm that the integrated leg straps are properly fastened. Verification can only be performed by manually moving the flaps to feel the buckles. Testing on an identical harness demonstrated that a pilot could experience the illusion of being fully secured, as the harness does not feel loose even if the leg straps are unfastened. Furthermore, the investigation determined that the unfastened straps remain tucked inside the harness (a "cocoon" effect), making them invisible even during a visual pre-flight check.
Findings
- The pilot failed to secure the leg straps of the harness.
- The design of the harness, specifically the neoprene aerodynamic cover, prevented visual confirmation of the leg strap connection.
- The pilot likely believed she was properly secured due to the lack of physical sensation of looseness during the initial phase of the launch.
- The unfastened straps remained hidden within the harness structure, making them undetectable during a standard visual inspection.