Final Report: Accident, Ozone Delta 3 (Paraglider) Ballinacor, Co. Wicklow 11 May 2019 Report 2019-010

 

On 11 May 2019, the Pilot launched his Paraglider from a location at Sorrel Hill, Co. Wicklow at 11.33 hrs, with the intention of conducting a cross-country flight to Wexford town.  The launch was witnessed by a fellow Paraglider pilot, who he had met earlier with the intention of them both attempting cross-country flights as far as Wexford.  The Pilot gained height and then proceeded in a south-easterly direction towards the Glenmalur Valley.  A mobile phone application used by the Pilot showed the entire flight, from the launch point to the north slope of Ballinacor Mountain (Mt), Co. Wicklow.  The Pilot did not reply to a phone message sent at 15.03 hrs and was declared missing later that day.  The deceased Pilot was located at 07.30 hrs the following morning (12 May 2019) on Ballinacor Mt; the Paraglider wing was still attached to the Pilot’s seat harness.  Recorded data showed that the Paraglider had been airborne for 1 hour and 33 minutes.