Return to the incident list: Incident List Collision with Terrain/Power lines PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 41 Weight: 210 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: Muse 30 Size: Paramotor Frame: Airfer Tornado M21 with

Incident Details

August 26, 2006 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

I flew the night before the incident in this general area but at altitudes of 200ft+ AGL, but I was unfamiliar with this terrain. The general flying area consisted of a meandering river surrounded by rolling hills with a patch work of farms and wooded areas. Flood plains generally followed the river bank for several miles, which were mostly farmed into soybeans, corn and hay. There were numerous campgrounds along the river and scattered powerlines throughout the area.

On the morning of the flight, temps were slightly above dewpoints and while the ceiling was low, visibility was good with only slight patches of fog/mist. For added protection, I activated my strobe light and launched with another pilot for what was to be a nice long flight along the river. The other pilot had just landed to obtain more fuel and reported good conditions. With light winds and flat fields, I proceeded to do some low flying along the flood plains/fields. The many campers cooking breakfast along the creek was a contributing distraction to the flight. While in flight, several powerlines were spotted and avoided. My flying partner was about 200ft AGL.

The particular set of lines I hit ran from the wooded creek area, with pole in the woods, perpendicular to and across a 350-400ft farm field to another pole in a wood line, then to a small farm house. These lines were two unshielded parallel lines approximately 18-25 feet off the ground. I believe they were 250 volt lines and supplied only one home. After the incident, several pilots remarked they believe it was the same set they had seen the day before and had warned others they were hard to see.

As I was flying along at about 5-10 feet off the ground, I noticed the lines with only seconds to spare. I was unable to climb over, nor turn away, so I let off the throttle and tried to go under them. The glider hit the lines just under the cells causing the 4 center A lines to break from the wing. There was also a few small tears and some spark damage. As I hit the lines, I killed the motor and was caused to swing out then skid and drop onto my back into 3ft high soybeans. The wing fell to the ground. At the point of rotating out, after hitting the lines, I was pratically at ground level with the soybeans and suffered no injury at all. There was no damage to the motor unit. If I were higher off the ground, I believe the results would have been very different. I believe the atmospheric conditions only contributed to the extent that if it were clear and sunny, the power lines may have been more visible by shadow or reflection. With the connecting poles hidden in adjacent woodlines, these power lines were difficult to spot. This farmer did not want the poles interfering with his crops. Flying low can be dangerous, especially in foreign territory.

Flight Window: Wind Speed: Type: Phase of Flight: Type of Injury: Collateral Damage: Analysis of the incident (additional input by the incident investigation team): Photos (if available):

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