Covering form of preliminary or final report
Back| Date of event: | 2025.07.29 |
|---|---|
| Incident number: | CZ-25-1428 |
| Report: | Final report |
| Place of event: | southeastern edge of the Raná mountain |
| Registration mark: | Air accident |
| Weight category MTOM:: | <2250 kg |
| Type of operation: | Recreational and sport aviation |
| Plane / SFM: | Sports flying machine |
| Type of plane / SFM: | MAGIC M |
| Health effects of event: | The fatal injuries |
| PDF document: |
 |
Description:
Synopsis
The pilot was conducting a ground training session of paraglider wing handling on the NW training area on the northwestern edge of the Raná mountain in a north-westerly wind of 6–10 m∙s-1. During this activity, she gradually reached the middle of the training area under the "small bump" of the Raná mountain, where she made a take-off with an attempt to ridge soar. A gust of wind carried her up from the meadow and back over the edge of the "small bump". The paraglider reached the area of the leeward side of the slope with strong turbulent flow. In the rotor flow, half of the wing collapsed multiple times and the paraglider went into a spiral. The pilot lost control of the paraglider and hit the slope hard at high speed. The pilot was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries, where she succumbed to her injuries the next day. The paraglider was not damaged.
The pilot and the course of the critical flight
The pilot had held a pilot's licence for 2 years and was qualified to conduct paraglider flights. She flew her own sport flying device, with which she flew for about 50 flight hours and carried approximately 50 hours of ground training. She engaged in ridge soaring and thermal flying. Flights were performed in the vicinity of launching sites not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad. She had little experience with flying on the Raná launching site and did not know the specific conditions for flying in the vicinity of the Raná mountain.
The pilot had planned to make a recreational flight by taking off from the Raná launching site. Upon arrival at the airport shortly before 14:00, the weather conditions were not suitable for a flight with the given type of paraglider. The pilot decided to use the time for ground practice of paraglider wing handling on a training area on the northwest edge of the Raná mountain in a north-westerly wind of 6–10 m∙s-1. During this activity, she gradually reached the middle of the training area under the "small bump" of the Raná mountain, where she performed a takeoff with an attempt to ridge soar.
The critical situation and the impact of the weather conditions
The pilot made a takeoff in about half of the training area under the "small bump" of the Raná mountain with an attempt to ridge soar. Shortly after takeoff, a gust of wind carried her up and back from the area to the edge of the "little bump". The pilot did not attempt to change the flight path to the southwest along the slope, although she was unable to make headway against the wind even with the speed bar fully depressed. The paraglider reached the area of the leeward side of the slope with strong turbulent flow. In the rotor flow, half of the wing collapsed multiple times and the paraglider went into a spiral. The pilot lost control of the paraglider and hit the slope hard at high speed. Upon impact, the paraglider briefly dragged her on the ground before she stopped.
Meteorological conditions were not suitable for safe flight with the given type of paraglider. Strong ground-level wind with occasional gusts and orographic turbulence made piloting the paraglider difficult.
Conclusions/Causes
The cause of the accident was loss of control of the paraglider shortly after takeoff while attempting to ridge soar in gusty winds.
Attached final report in PDF file is in original Czech language.