This is the moment a tandem hang glider and a solo paraglider crashed in mid air sending the paraglider spiralling to his death.
Sergio Manoel Da Silva, a flight instructor, was flying with a student when he collided with businessman Philip Eric Haegler, 59, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 20.
In footage, filmed by Manoel Da Silva, the hang glider can be seen cruising above the skies of Rio when Mr Haegler’s paraglider suddenly comes into view.
Mr Haegler’s wing then clips the bottom of the glider sending him spiralling to the ground below.
Now, Manoel Da Silva has been accused of causing the death of Mr Haegler and the case has been sent to prosecutors who will decide whether to bring charges to court.
Police reportedly concluded the instructor, Sergio Manoel da Silva, acted with ‘negligence’ and ‘inattention’ and failed to follow sporting flight safety rules.
Manoel Da Silva told officers he was flying with a student when he became distracted as he approached the landing area.
He reportedly said he looked down to release the student’s leg strap in a standard manoeuvre and lost sight of Mr Haegler’s paraglider for about three seconds.
Manoel Da Silva reportedly said that when he looked forward again he was startled to see Mr Haegler approaching from the opposite direction and slightly below.
He reportedly said he attempted a sudden movement but could not avoid the collision.
The newly obtained videos show Mr Haegler’s paraglider approaching quickly from the opposite direction and just beneath the instructor’s hang glider.
The footage shows parts of the equipment and the pilot’s body striking the paraglider before the canopy tangles and Mr Haegler loses control.
Mr Haegler then hit the facade of a building on Avenida Prefeito Mendes de Morais around the 11th floor before plunging about 45 metres.
Manoel da Silva reportedly told police the lower pilot has priority under sporting aviation rules and that Mr Haegler had the right of way.
He insisted Mr Haegler made no mistake and said the crash was caused by a split-second lapse.
Manoel da Silva told officers he admired Mr Haegler and described him as an idol he had learned from. He also stated he was seeking psychological support while remaining available to investigators.
Mr Haegler was a two-time Brazilian free-flight champion.
He was due to turn 60 two days after the crash.
