Pilot flying low over baseball field experienced sudden downdraft during left turn, dropped 60 feet, hit concrete parking lot, became airborne again and caught power line causing major injuries
Powerline collision / Near Miss
High — very likely identified
Pilot was flying over empty public baseball field and parking lot surrounded by trees, pilots body was level with tree tops. Pilot started a slow left turn and suddenly dropped 60 feet while wing was still inflated. Pilot killed motor before hitting concrete but became airborne again after sliding across concrete approximately 30 feet. Pilot continued another 20 feet before wing was caught on an insulated power line. Due to pilots left leg being caught under frame the pilot received road rash and the frame deeply gouged his foot.
Downdraft caused sudden loss of altitude. The fact the pilot had just began a turn made him lose altitude even faster. Pilot was flying low with no safe landing area available. Flying low next to trees in wind conditions contributed to incident.
Not deployed
concrete parking lot
Mostly correct inputs while reacting
Fractured bone in foot, tendon and nerve damage, road rash. Pilot expected to make full recovery.
June 9, 2024
19:11:00
United States
Palatka, Florida
Footlaunch
Air conception Race V2
Air conception Nitro 200
U-turn
Progress
26
18 m
Age 33, Male, 180 lbs, PPG 3 rated, 50+ hours experience
3.1 m/s
Steady at 7mph
Evening flight, moderate wind (5-9 mph), steady/laminar type
Pilot was flying over empty public baseball field and parking lot surrounded by trees, pilots body was level with tree tops. Pilot started a slow left turn and suddenly dropped 60 feet while wing was still inflated. Pilot killed moter before hitting concrete but became airborn again after sliding across concrete approximately 30 feet. Pilot continued another 20 feet before wing was caught on a insulated power line. Due to pilots left leg being caught under frame the pilot recieved road rash and the frame deeply gouged his foot. The pilot suffered a fractured bone in his foot and tendon and nerve damage. Pilot is expected yo make a full recovery. After going over the incident with other pilots it is believed a down draft caused the sudden loss of altitude and the fact the pilot had just began a turn made him lose altitude even faster. Unfortunately there was no safe landing area or time to react. Pilot believe better decision making could have prevented the accident, don't fly low when there is not safe landing area and even in light wind dont fly low next to trees. Wind was steady at 7mph.