Meribel ski resort. Photo: Meribel tourism
Méribel resort in winter. Photo: Méribel Tourism

Méribel tandem and single-prop plane in fatal collision

Two people died in a mid-air collision between a tandem paraglider and a Piper PA-18

24 January, 2025, by Tarquin Cooper

A mid-air collision between a tandem paraglider and a single-prop Piper PA-18A-150 Super Cub plane resulted in the death of the two people in the French ski resort of Méribel on Tuesday 21 January.

The mid-air accident happened shortly before 5pm when the plane collided with the tandem before crashing into the roof of a chalet.

The plane’s pilot and passenger were both killed. They were aged 58 and 26. The tandem pilot and passenger are reported uninjured. The prosecutor of the Republic of Albertville, Benoît Bachelet, told Le Dauphine newspaper that the two are shocked, but “out of danger”.

A judicial inquiry has opened under the aegis of the Albertville public prosecutor’s office. A local pilot who knows the tandem pilot involved in the accident, said that they have been asked to halt all flying activities in the area but had no further details of the ban or how long it will last.

“It’s awful, especially for the pilot involved,” he said. He added that his friend was now cooperating with the police investigation to determine what happened and urged pilots not to speculate.

At the height of the rescue operation, 30 fire engines and 45 firefighters were mobilised. The incident was particularly complex as a kerosene leak from the small plane flowed into the chalet. There was also a risk of the building collapsing.

A witness told FranceTV: “We heard a big ‘boom’ outside, people were screaming.” In the video, the tandem can be seen descending under reserve. Images later showed it wrapped around a fir tree. Paragliding was suspended in the area for 48 hours after the accident.

A tandem paraglider wrapped around a fir tree in the French ski resort of Meribel. Photo: Facebook
The tandem is in the tree on the right, the red reserve on the left. Photo: Facebook

Tandem flights are a popular activity for skiers and holiday-makers in the Les Trois Vallées ski area, which comprises the resorts of Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens. On flyable days, they are a regular sight in the sky, and often fly over the popular après-ski venue La Folie Douce. A week ago, a video of a tandem pilot flying too close to the club went viral.

The victims were reported to be both airline pilots. Jean-François Grammont, president of the Méribel aeroclub, told local journalists that the 58-year-old was someone with extensive qualifications, having begun his flying career through light aviation before progressing to professional flying, and also noted his expertise as an aerobatics instructor. “He was very experienced, of great humanity. It’s difficult for us, for the aeroclub of Méribel, for all the mountain pilots.”

Mid-air collisions between paragliders or hang gliders and general aviation aircraft are extremely rare, although when they do happen the results are usually extremely serious. In December 2021 a solo paramotor pilot and a Cessa 208 Super Caravan collided near Houston, Texas, resulting in the death of both pilots.

This article was updated on 28 January



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