Wild paragliding "accident"

Bmacleod said:
Tough to call it an accident, as someone simply screwed up.
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Not sure how you can call a small plane hitting a paraglider's wing 'simply someone screwed up'. Planes are supposed to stay 1000' away from clouds, there must be some rules about staying away from paragliders and other non powered gliders.
 
SMSW said:
Not sure how you can call a small plane hitting a paraglider's wing 'simply someone screwed up'. Planes are supposed to stay 1000' away from clouds, there must be some rules about staying away from paragliders and other non powered gliders.
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You misunderstood, or I didnt choose correct wordage. I wasnt saying it was a simple mistake... I meant it simply shouldnt have happened.
 
I saw the story on a news feed yesterday. What surprised me was the comments made by people who fly and know the rules better than I do.

She was at fault. Yes. At first, I was looking for what punishment they gave to the pilot and I found no mention. Then I got to reading the comments. Apparently, she was flying high enough that she should've been using some kind of transponder that would let air traffic and any ground controllers know she was in the area. And as another pilot mentioned, when you're trying to pick out something that small that is directly in line with you at 130 mph against a mottled background, she would be almost impossible to see.

Chris
 
I'm not up on Austrian unpowered flight laws but I did know a few US laws back when I flew a hang glider. And a few more after I got my private powered airplane license.

It's legal to fly any unregistered glider in the US up to 17,999 feet and it used to be legal to fly the same up to 21,000 feet Over 3 areas of the US. Sandia Mountain right at Albuquerque was regularly cleared to fly up 21,000. No sort of transponder required.

Does anyone think this airplane was in the right? Clipped from the mentioned video.


pg1.jpg
 
I know even less. But I also know that everything I read on the Internet is true. ;)

Here's a couple comments that I read.
Never Surrender
19 hours ago

Paragliders should, but do not, carry transponders or other electronic devices that would alert other aircraft of their presence. Air traffic radar, if available, as a result can't see them. Many paragliders don't even carry basic avaition-frequency VHF radios. It is extremely difficult to spot other small aircraft or paragliders in the air; visibility turns on weather and background conditions, among many other things. From a small plane, try spotting other small planes against a cluttered ground background and you'll not see what's directly in front of you. A similar accident occurred a few years ago near Houston, Texas at a 5,000-foot altitude; both pilots were killed. Not knowing all the facts and circumstances, I would be inclined to place primary blame on the paraglider.
Reply

  • Juliette Dechamp
    19 hours ago

    This was in Europe. She was not supposed to be at that altitude without ADS-B.
    Reply

    Show 6 more replies
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Another one from Juliette Dechamp.
Juliette Dechamp
19 hours ago

It would be nearly impossible to see it when it is same direction, same altitude at a 130mph close rate. It would remain perfectly still in our view and easily blend into the background mountain terrain. Plus the paraglider improperly flew up into controlled airspace without a transponder or ADS-B. Pilot had no expectation that a nearly invisible paraglider would be there and with ADS-B on the paraglider none of the systems that would have warned of traffic would have worked. Pilot should sue the paraglider for damage to the aircraft.
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There were some other replies that seemed quite knowledgeable like the one that said the pilot was likely her ex. :unsure: That would put a different light on the situation.

Chris
 
I went back to the video. This is taken one second before the picture above. Judging from the shadows and lighting, it appears the plane's pilot was looking into the sun as well. We're seeing the close-up film and the story was picked because it got you to click on it.

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BTW, the plane is in the picture. Your eyes just can't see it yet. 1 second before. And she's smaller than the plane and into the sun.

I think the pilot did a good job, all things considered.

Chris
 
Daboo said:
I went back to the video. This is taken one second before the picture above. Judging from the shadows and lighting, it appears the plane's pilot was looking into the sun as well. We're seeing the close-up film and the story was picked because it got you to click on it.

1779730792390.png

BTW, the plane is in the picture. Your eyes just can't see it yet. 1 second before. And she's smaller than the plane and into the sun.

I think the pilot did a good job, all things considered.

Chris
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It seems you have your mind made up regardless of the facts or clues visible in the picture you posted.

What are those pretty blue red streaks visible just above the paraglider wing? What causes those lens flare streaks? Surely not a sun straight overhead both pilots.

Where would the sun be if the shadows from the clouds are in the lower part of the valley?

You should watch the video one more time. Notice as the Cessna cuts right through her PG lines she gets really dark? Like the plane passed between her and the sun straight overhead. Before the camera was snapped under her....

I think the Cessna pilot was sight seeing and on his cell phone..........................Should have put down his phone and should look out the window when flying in an area known to have paragliders flying in the afternoon.....
 
W0QNX said:
It seems you have your mind made up regardless of the facts or clues visible in the picture you posted.
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:D :D When you thought that, were you looking in the mirror? ;)

W0QNX said:
I think the Cessna pilot was sight seeing .............
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Well, I doubt he was looking for the exit on the next tight corner. But in all the thousands of miles you have ridden, you mean to tell me you never took your eyes off the road to see what the countryside looked like?

W0QNX said:
.............Should have put down his phone and should look out the window when flying in an area known to have paragliders flying in the afternoon.....
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Hmm :unsure: Do they have cell towers available in the air? If so, they probably get better reception than we do here. There's lots of areas here in the Pacific Northwest without cell coverage.

Also, looks like you have more data than the rest of us do. :) Besides knowing the pilot was on his cell phone, you know the area is known for having paragliders.

W0QNX said:
It's legal to fly any unregistered glider in the US up to
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But she was flying in Europe. More specifically in Austria. Are the rules the same?

What are the specific findings of the police investigation?

Finished
As of May 25, 2026, the police investigation into the Zell am See paragliding accident has released preliminary findings, though the full cause remains under review.

  • Sequence of Events: The Salzburg State Police confirmed the 44-year-old paraglider, Sabrina, was flying straight toward Piesendorf from Schmittenhöhe mountain when the collision occurred at approximately 1:15 p.m. The Cessna 172, operated by a 28-year-old pilot from Tyrol, was on a sightseeing flight from the Glemmtal valley to Zell am See Airport.
  • Paraglider's Actions: Investigators stated Sabrina was not performing any maneuvers and was flying predictably at the time of impact.
  • Pilot's Account: The Cessna pilot reported he could not see or avoid the paraglider in time. Police noted he was unable to take evasive action.
  • Cause: The official cause is still listed as under investigation. However, authorities have suggested that visibility limitations in the mountainous terrain, where the paraglider may have been difficult to spot against the complex alpine background, likely contributed to the incident.
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Here are the thoughts that keep coming back to me as I think about this.
  • First, that I originally took the gut level reaction that the pilot of the Cessna should be in prison. :mad:
  • Then I started to read what seems like some knowledgeable people's comments that supported why that pilot wasn't arrested when he landed. It changed my mind. FWIW, there's a 15 page report you can read about the preliminary investigative results. I posted a summary above.
  • Then I got to thinking of all the times I've been saved from my own mistakes by other's actions.
  • This is what "news" is all about now. How to get you (in general) upset about something so that you keep reading and clicking on "news"...that really isn't news. Feeling the outrage over something that happened two days ago in a different part of the world so you (in general) keep looking for more to feed the outrage...which is how they make money.
  • Both participants in this have been home for a couple days and probably sitting down with friends having a cold brewski and feeling grateful that it didn't turn out worse.
I have things on my Honey-do list to take care of. ;)

Chris
 
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W0QNX said:
I'm not up on Austrian unpowered flight laws but I did know a few US laws
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But this didn't take place in the US

W0QNX said:
seems you have your mind made up regardless of the facts or clues visible in the picture you posted.
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You've done the same. Someone seemingly knowledgeable about this situation offers seemingly relevant information to the specific incident. The glider pilot apparently not supposed to be where she was and and not with the required equipment according the post and local law.

Dechamp corrected one errant poster and made what seemed salient comments in a second post. You didn't address them. Why?

W0QNX said:
I think the Cessna pilot was sight seeing and on his cell phone..........................Should have put down his phone and should look out the window when flying in an area known to have paragliders flying in the afternoon.....
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You're speculating. Then making a conclusion based on speculation. You are either right or wrong. I don't know. But me I'll wait till the collision is investigated by appropriate personnel and agencies who will doubtless have more information than what's been shown here.
 
Bmacleod said:
Tough to call it an accident, as someone simply screwed up.
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Unless there is some element of deliberateness it falls into one of two categories of accidents — preventable and non-preventable. The circumstances surrounding the accident determine the cause be it pilot error or mechanical or atmospheric or whatever. So I'd say at this point it's fair to call it an accident.

Assigning the cause and by extension blame is the job of trained investigators that gather facts. Unimpeded by personal bias or external interference we should see responsibility objectively and correctly assigned.

But what fun is that when we can assign blame without shouldering any responsibility when doing so. At some point someone will say to someone else — I told you so. Ok.
 
Gotta love the You can be a news site... You can be a news site... And YOU can be a news site mentality.

From https://informedclearly.com/en/news...der-midair-collision-austria-zell-am-see-2026

Cessna Hits Paraglider in Austria: Midair Collision Caught on Camera​

A Cessna 172 collided with a paraglider over Zell am See, Austria on May 23, 2026. The paraglider survived by deploying her reserve parachute. Video shows the dramatic midair collision. Investigation ongoing.

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Clearly the plane was flying too low as the pilot did Sudoku or was visiting something called Only Fans. I didn't see the dramatic video at this site. Of course the headline doesn't read/say there's dramatic video in the article.
 
I did a quick glance at the first page on the investigation report. The authorities are trying to come up with some answers on how to prevent this from happening again. They don't have any good answers. I think it is one of those situations that have become more and more dangerous because of the increase in participants in the paragliding as well as sight-seeing flights in the area. I suspect there are no good answers.

@ST Gui - I love that photo! It captures the essence of the entire accident. And shows the witnesses too!

Chris
 
I thought transponders send out a signal to identify an aircraft for controlled airport towers on the control tower's radar. Do they also sound an alert for other planes with transponders? In other words, if Sabrina had said transponder, and were it turned on, would the Cessna have picked up her signal and known she was there? If she was in controlled airspace presumably ATC would have notified the Cessna of her presence. Is Austrian ATC like ours...overworked and understaffed?
 
SMSW said:
I thought transponders send out a signal to identify an aircraft for controlled airport towers on the control tower's radar. Do they also sound an alert for other planes with transponders? In other words, if Sabrina had said transponder, and were it turned on, would the Cessna have picked up her signal and known she was there? If she was in controlled airspace presumably ATC would have notified the Cessna of her presence. Is Austrian ATC like ours...overworked and understaffed?
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Transponders identify an aircraft when painted with radar to help ATC separate traffic... useless in uncontrolled airspace for VFR traffic without flight following. ADS-B is newer technology which identifies the aircraft, altitude and groundspeed for ATC. I don't believe aircraft have any way of monitoring ADS-B (I haven't flown in a while) without a tablet & internet connection then again, VFR pilots need their eyes on a swivel outside the aircraft. There are parachuting sites in my area: they were marked on the charts and I avoided them.

In case you want to see the ridiculous amount of aircraft in the air at one time, check out the link.


ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live - aircraft flight history
globe.adsbexchange.com globe.adsbexchange.com
 
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