Pilot was target fixated on a turn at low altitude and struck a power line head-on. The line caught between pilot and wing, swinging pilot horizontally before falling. Pilot landed with damaged ribs but walked away.
Powerline collision / Near Miss
High — very likely identified
Pilot was target fixated on a turn he wanted to make at low altitude and struck a power line head-on without seeing it until too late. The line caught between the pilot and the wing, acting like hitting a wall. It swung the pilot up horizontally before he fell straight back. Pilot went to full throttle hoping to soften the impact but it didn't work. Wire was about 20 feet off the ground, below tree level in terms of viewing from flight path and almost impossible to see. Line was strung across a very long distance and not noticeable if looking for powerline poles. Pilot walked away with damaged ribs but otherwise intact.
Target fixation during low-altitude turn, power line below tree level and difficult to see, power line strung across long distance without obvious poles
Not deployed
ground
Some correct and some wrong inputs
Damaged ribs
November 27, 2024
17:30:00
United States
Thompson, Connecticut
Footlaunch
Liberty 153
Vittorazi Moster 185
Dudek
Hadron 3
22
6 m
Age 57, weight 163 lbs, male, PPG 2 rating, 50+ hours experience
1.3 m/s
Light wind (1-5 mph), light and variable
Evening flight window
Line hit - PPG Type: Foot Launch – Single Occupant - Type of Injury: Minor Injury Pilot Details: Age: 57 Weight: 163 Gender: Male Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Intermediate – PPG 2 Pilot experience level: 50+ hours Gear Details: Wing Brand: Dudek Model: Hadron 3 Size: 22 Paramotor Frame: Liberty 153 with Vittorazi Moster 185 Incident Details: November 27, 2024 5:30 PM Location of the incident: Thompson, Connecticut Type of Incident: Collision with terrain or ground obstacle I had a strike last week where I was target fixated on a turn I wanted to make low and struck the power line head on without ever seeing it …until it was too late. The line caught me between me and the wing. It was like hitting a wall, it swung me up horizontally before I fell straight back, I went to full throttle hoping to soften the impact (didn't work) , I walked away from it with some damaged ribs but intact . The wire was about 20 feet off the ground, below tree level in terms of viewing from my flight path and almost impossible to see. This line was also strung across a very long distance and note noticeable if you were looking for powerline poles. Flight Window: Evening Wind Speed: Light Wind (1-5 mph) Type: Light and Variable Phase of Flight: Cruise/In Flight Type of Injury: Minor Injury Collateral Damage: None