Paraglider Survives Mid-Air Collision With Plane Above Zell am See, Austria

A paraglider survived a mid-air collision above the Austrian Alps near Zell am See ski resort on May 23. The collision occurred around 1:15 p.m. near Pinzgauer Hütte above Piesendorf. A Cessna F182Q Skylane on a local sightseeing loop approached the area where a paraglider pilot was flying. The paraglider, identified as Sabrina, filmed the incident and shared her survival story. Salzburg police reported the paraglider pilot was 44 and the Cessna pilot was 28. The Cessna’s left wing struck the paraglider, ripping away the canopy and wrapping fabric and equipment around the aircraft. The area is popular for paragliding and lies beneath flight approaches to Zell am See Airport, with club guidance emphasizing strict launch rules and restricted zones.

"The collision occurred at approximately 1:15 p.m. on May 23 near the Pinzgauer Hütte above Piesendorf, a small village in Austria's Salzburg region roughly eight kilometers from Zell am See. According to Salzburg police, a 44-year-old paraglider pilot from Upper Austria was flying near the mountain hut when a Cessna F182Q Skylane, operated by Alpenflug LLC and registered as OE-KAF, approached on what the Aviation Safety Network confirmed was a local sightseeing loop - having departed Zell am See Airport and returning to the same airport when the collision occurred, just 1.2 nautical miles west-northwest of the published traffic pattern. The plane was piloted by a 28-year-old man from Tyrol."

"The area is popular with paragliders, who can access the Schmittenhöhe area by gondola, from where many take off points can be accessed. Unfortunately, the area also sits beneath the flight approaches to Zell am See Airport. The local Ikarus Pinzgau paragliding club explicitly warns pilots on its website that "we share the airspace with gliders, helicopters and powered aircraft" and that "it is essential that all paraglider pilots adhere to the rules and agreements" - including strict time windows for launching and a prohibition on entering certain restricted zones below 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) above sea level."

"The Cessna's pilot told police he was unable to recognize or avoid the paraglider in time. The aircraft's left wing made contact with the flex-wing paraglider, ripping away the canopy and leaving the fabric and equipment wrapped around the"

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