Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 1170; Flight Crew Type 1170
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Making straight in approach to ZZZ Runway 23 on arrival. At 5 mile out; I saw a paraglider to my left at pattern altitude near the airport coming in opposite direction. During my approach the paraglider crossed my flight path from left to right and appeared to be continuing beyond my flight path. The paraglider was at least 1.5 to 2 mile in front of me at this time. At 2 miles from the airport; the paraglider appeared to again be traveling on my reciprocal course and well to the right of my approach course to RWY 23. At approximately 1.5 miles as I continued my approach; while keeping a close eye on the paraglider; I could see I would pass to the left of the paraglider but his distance from my approach course was no longer increasing as it had been moments before. At this point I was 800 to 1;000 ft AGL and about to pass the paraglider traveling in what I thought was the opposite direction. As I passed the paraglider I then saw that the paraglider was traveling in the same direction; not opposite as I had thought; to my flight path and slightly converging. I passed within 400-500 ft to the left and 100 ft below the paraglider before it occurred to me that the paraglider could have been on his own approach to the airport. The dusk conditions at the time made it difficult to determine the paraglider's direction of flight (toward or away) from my aircraft. To prevent this situation; upon seeing the paraglider cross in front of me; I should have discontinued my approach to ZZZ; altered course to the left as the paraglider was passing toward my right and entered an upwind pattern entry (right traffic is designated for this RWY) for RWY 23. I'm still not sure if the paraglider was making his approach to landing; if he was; he was making a left traffic pattern at the time of the event. I made a normal landing and was tying down my aircraft when I stopped to watch the paraglider land a few minutes later. Neither aircraft were required to take evasive action.
Cessna Pilot reported a NMAC with a paraglider.