FULSHEAR, Texas (AP) — The situation and altitude of a powered paraglider weren't on an air visitors controller’s radar show when a small airplane was positioned on a collision course with it close to Houston, federal investigators stated Friday.
In a preliminary report, Nationwide Transportation Security Board investigators stated the powered paraglider lacked a transponder or different monitoring tools when hit by the single-engine Cessna 208B on Dec. 21.
Consequently, the controller was unaware of inserting the Cessna pilot on a collision course with the paraglider pilot flying harnessed to a propeller. Each collided mid-air and crashed 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of Houston, killing each pilots.