24 Matches (out of a total of 833 incidents)
  1. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    12/02/2002 San Isidro, Dominican Republic MAL 29 850 ?/N    
    Description: After a normal skydive, the deceased experienced a malfunction on his main canopy. He cutaway, but did not get a reserve out.
    Lessons:An AAD or RSL might have made a difference here.
  2. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    03/03/2002 Castellon, Spain LOWT, LAND 176 ?/?    
    DropZone.com Description:
    Lessons:
    Fallschirmsportverband Description: - Jump from a Ce 208 - at about 1000m main was deployed; because of the difficult wind situation he did not land on the dropzone. He landed at the beach. - On final aproach he made a turn to avoid a wire obstacle and with the relatively small canopy uncontrolably hit a wall - heavy head and chest injuries, died in hospital after emergency surgery.
    Fallschirmsportverband Conclusions:
  3. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    10/03/2002 Skydive Citrusdal, South Africa NOP 26 Y/Y    
    Description: Apparently, she imapcted with no handles pulled, and a CYPRES AAD on the rig. More information appreciated.
    Lessons:
  4. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    24/03/2002 Vernon, Canada LAND 4000 ?/?    
    Description: After a normal skydive, this jumper managed to get get canopy into line-twists at around 500-700'. She did not get out of them, and impacted while the parachute was in a spin. The make and loading of the canopy is not known. (help?)
    Lessons:Know thy canopy, and attempt radical maneauvers up high.
  5. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    29/03/2002 Oppdal, Norway Y?/?    
    Description: For unknown reasons, this jumper deployed his main at about 1000 feet. Almost simultanouosly as the main deployed, the reserve was also deployed and became entangled with the main. Due to this, no canopies were operational and he hit the ground at high speed.
    Lessons:More information appreciated.
  6. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    30/03/2002 Netheravon, England LOWT 54 5000 ?/?    
    Description: This skydiver made an uneventful free fall descent (a 4-way RW jump), deployed his main parachute at a suitable altitude, remained ?up wind? of the intended landing area until he commenced the final ?down wind leg? of the descent. At a very low altitude, approximately 50ft he initiated a radical left turn in order to face into wind for landing. He then struck the ground at high speed before completing the turn. {Taken from the BPA committee report at: http://www.bpa.org.uk/safetydocs/STC%2011%2004%2002.doc)
    Lessons:Errors in judgement when making low turns can kill. Still.
  7. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    30/03/2002 Proenca-a-Nova, Portugal ?/?    
    Description: Other than the jumper was norwegian, no other information is known. Help?
    Lessons:
  8. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    31/03/2002 Wantula Skotak, Czech Republic LAND 98 ?/?    
    Description: Lift No.1, plane Mi-8 helicopter, exit altitude 4000 meters, sunny weather, calm wind condition. Jumper: 98 jumps, Fandango 135 main canopy. The jumper was making the final landing approach with a correct angle and speed. At 50 meters, he suddenly initiated a left 360 degrees turn. He finished the turn at altitude that did not allow a safe flare of the canopy. Despite the imminent presence of the ground, the jumper did not appear to take any evasive actions and hit the ground at a 45 degrees angle. The manoeuvre was probably motivated by the jumper's attempt to land close to a photographer that had been taking photographs of his team colleague. As the photographer alleged this had not been co-ordinated. After the impact the jumper showed no signs of life and the paramedics arriving at the scene less than 4 minutes after the accident confirmed his death. An inspection of the deceased jumper's canopy proved that the canopy had been fully functional
    Lessons:A poor judgement call, and lack of experience probably lead to this incident. It would be interesting to know the jumper's weight.
  9. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    01/06/2002 Hinton, England BIZ Y/?    
    Description: Apparently, a skydiving in freefall collided with the wing of a glider, and both the pilot of the glider and the skydiver were killed. This incident occurred at about 2000'. The wing was knocked off of the glider.
    Lessons:Clearing the airspace below you is an important, and often overlooked, responsibility of each skydiver. Admittedly, however, this is an unusual occurance!
    BPA Description: At approximately 15.00 hours on Saturday 1st June 2002, the deceased boarded a LET 410 operated by the Hinton Skydiving Centre, in order to make a three-way FS jump with two other parachutists. Also on board were fourteen other parachutists.

    The aircraft climbed to approximately 12,000 ft AGL and then ‘ran in’ at approximately 170-180° from north, over the top of the DZ control point and over the PLA.

    Once the aircraft was over the exit point, the first three parachutists, including the deceased3, left the aircraft followed shortly after, at various intervals, by the remaining parachutists.

    The majority of his free fall descent went without incident, though only he and one of the other parachutists linked together in freefall. At approximately 4,000ft AGL he separated from the other parachutist in order to ‘track’ away to deploy his parachute. At this time a glider was observed to be in close proximity to the three parachutists. Shortly after, at between 3,000 – 4,000ft AGL the glider was seen to collide with him.

    The wing from the glider was observed to detach from the fuselage and the glider was then seen to spiral towards the ground. The pilot of the glider was not seen to exit the aircraft. The deceased's reserve parachute was observed to deploy at approximately 700ft AGL. Once the parachute had deployed, no movement was seen from the jumper. He was then observed to land under the parachute on the northern perimeter track of the airfield.
    BPA Conclusions:The majority of his free fall descent went without incident. At approximately 4,000ft AGL he separated from the other parachutist, in order to ‘track’ away to deploy his parachute. Shortly after, at approximately 3,000 – 4,000ft, the collision occurred.

    Even though there were systems in place that were intended to prevent this type of accident, it is the Board’s belief that the glider penetrated the agreed exclusion zone, that was intended for parachuting activities only, narrowly missing the other parachutist in free fall and then colliding with the deceased, who was also in free fall. This resulted in the glider wing detaching from the fuselage. The Board believe that the deceased was almost certainly fatally injured as a result of the collision.

    The DZ Controller attempted to abort the drop, by ground to aircraft radio. The crew of the aircraft did not hear the call, but the Board believe that when the call was made the parachutists had already left the aircraft.
  10. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    02/06/2002 Texel, Netherlands CCOL 30 1500 ?/?    
    Description: Two members of a four-way RW team were making s-turns to lose altitude shortly before landing, and collided at about 40m, free-falling from there with little assistance from their parachutes. Neither survived the impact. The wind was reported to be coming from an atypical direction that day.
    Lessons:Even very experienced skydivers, who are used to being in the air with each other, can make fatal mistakes. Being attentive under canopy, particularly when anything is out-of-the-ordinary, is important.
    KNVvL Description: Two experienced parachutists belonging to an FS4-team collided their canopies shortly before landing on their last training jump of the weekend. Both were flying a left hand pattern, the team was hanging far away from other jumpers and two of the four had landed already. The jumpers do not survive the accident.
    KNVvL Conclusions:Video imagery has shown that at least one of the two jumpers has not or too late noticed the other while flying their landing pattern. Main recommendation is and remains: always pay attention while under canopy, a jump is not over until after the landing.
  11. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    02/06/2002 Texel, Netherlands CCOL 34 1500 ?/?    
    Description: Two members of a four-way RW team were making s-turns to lose altitude shortly before landing, and collided at about 40m, free-falling from there with little assistance from their parachutes. Neither survived the impact. The wind was reported to be coming from an atypical direction that day.
    Lessons:Even very experienced skydivers, who are used to being in the air with each other, can make fatal mistakes. Being attentive under canopy, particularly when anything is out-of-the-ordinary, is important.
    KNVvL Description: Two experienced parachutists belonging to an FS4-team collided their canopies shortly before landing on their last training jump of the weekend. Both were flying a left hand pattern, the team was hanging far away from other jumpers and two of the four had landed already. The jumpers do not survive the accident.
    KNVvL Conclusions:Video imagery has shown that at least one of the two jumpers has not or too late noticed the other while flying their landing pattern. Main recommendation is and remains: always pay attention while under canopy, a jump is not over until after the landing.
  12. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    02/06/2002 Moorsele, Belgium 28 ?/?    
    DropZone.com Description:
    Lessons:
  13. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    15/06/2002 Beiseker, Canada MAL 20 ?/?    
    Description: The deceased was a British soldier from Northern Ireland who was deployed to Canada for adventure training, which had recently concluded. He was taking part in a a privately paid for parachute jump. He became entangled with his parachute and it failed to open properly. Within minutes of the accident, civilian paramedics attended the scene (the STARS (Calgary heli-born medics) and EMF Airdrie (Canadian civilian paramedics)) and pronounced him dead. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were called to the scene and retained primacy of the investigation for the first 48 hours following the death; they concluded that there was nothing suspicious about the death. Jurisdiction was subsequently passed to the Royal Military Police (RMP) detachment at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS). An investigator from the Land Accident Investigation Team, working for the RMP, concluded that the accident occurred as a result of him being unstable after exiting the aircraft.
    Lessons:
  14. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    29/06/2002 Texel, Netherlands LAND 33 ?/?    
    DropZone.com Description:
    Lessons:
    KNVvL Description: An experienced parachutist makes a training jump with his freefly team. Because of a long spot several jumpers do not land near the peas as usual but on a wide open field elsewhere on the airfield. The parachute of the jumper in case continues to descend at high speed after coming out of the last turn. Landing takes place almost immediately at very high speed. The jumper is found with both hands in the frontriser toggles. He passes away in hospital the next day.
    Because of the landing area the accident is seen by few people. If is therefore not possible to create a completely reliable account of the landing. It would seem however that the deceased lost a lot of altitude just before landing by using his frontriser toggles.
    KNVvL Conclusions:Use of frontrisers for gaining speed or for making turns carries risks, especially if this is done low above the ground or on landing.
  15. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    13/07/2002 Höxter, Germany NOP 28 Y/?    
    Description: The deceased was part of a very experiend 3-way freefly jump into the annual mini-meet competition. The plane took off from an airport at a different elevation to the intended DZ. The Cypres units were adjusted accordingly but it is believed the aircraft descended through this preset altitude causing the Cypres to believe the jumper to have landed. When the aircraft climbed again, the Cypres assumed it was a take-off for the next jump and re-calibrated but the preset landing elevation was cleared. Due to the deviation in the flying altitude during the calibration period, the 3 jumper's AADs were calibrated differently. During the jump, the 3 lost alitude awareness. One was able to deploy a canopy and land safely. A second had his reserve deployed by his Cypres and suffered serious injuries landing and the third had no canopies deployed when he impacted with the ground.
    Lessons:
  16. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    14/07/2002 Hinton, England LOWT 32 432 ?/?    
    DropZone.com Description:
    Lessons:
    BPA Description: was critically injured performing a low turn, on the 14th July. She died from her injuries on the 21st July.

    Circulated to those present was a Board of Inquiry Report resume, including the Conclusions and Recommendations of the Board, which consisted of the NCSO & Technical Officer. This report needs to be formally accepted by STC.

    At approximately 11:20 hrs on Sunday 14th July 2002, Rachel Louise Gray boarded a LET 410 along with sixteen other parachutists, which was to be the 4th parachuting lift of the day for that aircraft.

    The aircraft climbed to approximately 12,000ft AGL. A ‘jump run’ was made over the centre of the PLA. Once the aircraft was at the correct EP approximately half the parachutists on board exited. The aircraft then completed a second circuit and ‘ran in’ over the PLA again. Once over the correct EP the remainder of the parachutists exited, with Rachel being the first to leave.

    Rachel Gray was carrying out a solo jump. Her canopy was seen to deploy at the correct altitude, (between 2-3000ft AGL), and was seen to be flying correctly.
    BPA Conclusions:The Conclusions of the Board are that Rachel made an uneventful free fall decent. Deployed her main parachute at the correct altitude, and remained in a suitable area above the intended landing area. At a very low altitude, approximately 100ft AGL, she initiated a radical left turn, having been facing in a northerly direction, in order to face south for landing. She then struck the ground at high speed before fully completing the turn.

    There had been very little wind at the time of the accident and all parachutists on board the aircraft had been instructed, prior to take off, by the CCI to land facing in a southerly direction.

    Prior to the accident Rachel had completed only three jumps during 2002. These had all been within the previous six weeks. With 432 jumps, she was an experienced parachutist. However, the Board believes that this lack of currency, together with the low wind speed, may have contributed to Rachel making the incorrect decision to turn so low to the ground.

    At approximately 100ft AGL Rachel’s canopy, which was flying in a northerly direction, was observed to make a radical left turn, impacting with the ground before the turn was completed.
  17. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    27/07/2002 Hibaldstow, England LOWT 24 ?/?    
    DropZone.com Description:
    Lessons:
    BPA Description: At approximately 06.45 hrs on Saturday 27th July 2002, Oliver Reynolds boarded an SMG-92 aircraft along with nine other parachutists, which was to be the first lift of the day for that aircraft.

    This lift was the start of the first ‘round’ of the British National Championships in FS and Oliver was a member of a 4-way team taking part.

    The aircraft climbed to 10,500ft AGL. A ‘jump run’ was made over the centre of the PLA. When the aircraft was over the ‘exit point’, Oliver, along with his four fellow team members exited in order to carry out their planned FS jump. The remaining parachutists exited shortly after.

    The free fall part of the descent went without incident, during which a number of FS manoeuvres were completed. At approximately 4,000ft AGL the parachutists separated and deployed their parachutes between 2 - 3,000ft AGL.

    All parachutes deployed normally and Oliver’s parachute appeared to be flying correctly. At approximately 200ft AGL his parachute was observed to be flying over the landing area designated for Experienced Parachutists, approximately 100 metres from the parachute centre buildings and control point. At a very low altitude Oliver’s parachute was seen to make a radical turn, either left or right, (there was some confliction between witnesses as to the direction of turn). The parachute completed approximately 180° of the turn, at which point he impacted with the ground.
    BPA Conclusions:The Conclusions of the Board are that Oliver made an uneventful free fall descent, deployed his main parachute at the correct altitude, remained in a suitable area in order to land in the intended landing area. At a very low altitude he initiated a radical turn in order to face into wind for landing, though there was very little wind and a satisfactory landing could have been achieved facing in any direction. He then struck the ground at high speed before fully completing the turn.

    The Board do not know why Oliver made such a radical turn so close to the ground and can only conclude that he was not aware of how low he was prior to initiating the turn, or that he may have felt he could have executed the turn successfully.
  18. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    28/07/2002 Vladivostock, Russia MAL 31 288 ?/?   #184222
    Description: during a demo jump at a navy base during Navy Day celebrations. Arkadi Zhirov (b.1971), "an experienced skydiver" (by media reports), had a mal and hit water hard, died in hospital the same day. Exact cause of mal is unclear. Judging by media reports, it was either an recoverable line twist or main/PC entanglement or line-over - won't speculate on that. No details of his jump numbers, canopy, AAD. They were exiting an AN-2 turbopop at 500-800 meters. It was his 288th jump, though he made his first jump 15 years ago
    Lessons:
  19. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    28/07/2002 Kiev, Russia LAND 1000 ?/?    
    Description: In a separate incident the same weekend, an experienced skydiver (1000+ jumps) died in Kiev, Ukraine. He tried to avoid an obstacle (fence) on landing and flared high. His canopy stalled and he hit the ground hard. Died from injuries in hospital.
    Lessons:
  20. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    16/08/2002 Immola, Finland DMAL 21 1 Y/Y    
    Description: A first-time S/L-student was killed. After preliminary investigation this much is known: One of the lines of the main canopy snagged on the jumpers leg, causing a malfunction. After emergency-procedures, the reserve bridle snagged on the same line. The jumper hit the ground hanging from the main canopy only from this one line. The reserve was still in the free-bag. The jumper was instantly killed. There will be a full investigation on this incident.
    Lessons:
  21. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    16/08/2002 Schwennigen, Germany MAL,DMAL 4 Y/?    
    DropZone.com Description:
    Lessons:
    Fallschirmsportverband Description: - static line jump from 1200m
    - unstable exit, deployment malfunction with high decent rate
    - jumper was not seen doing anything to solve the problem or cut away.
    - jumper did not move at all in his harness
    - AAD (FXC 12000) activated round Reserve at about 300m above ground
    - entangelment of both canopies
    - deadly injuries at impact in a vertical position
    Fallschirmsportverband Conclusions:
  22. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    25/08/2002 Parachute School of Toronto, Canada DMAL 38 ?/?   #1029206
    DropZone.com Description:
    Lessons:
  23. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    09/09/2002 Varrelbusch, Germany BIZ,SUI? 30 Y/Y    
    DropZone.com Description:
    Lessons:
    Fallschirmsportverband Description: Student jumper had 30 millitary static line jumps. - First civilian jump after complete training
    - Fully inflated main, jumper reacted to radio, normal flight
    - At about 200m suddenly, totally unnecesarily cutaway
    - Cypres fired Reserve at about 20-30m
    - RSL was deactivated on the ground (after incident), even though Jumpmaster and the spotter said it was conected during the gearcheck and when he left the plane - deadly injuries upon impact
    - mysterious order of events with unanswered questions
    Fallschirmsportverband Conclusions:
  24. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    03/10/2002 Croatia EXC ?/?    
    Description: Girl hit propeller on landing. As I heard it was her first jump. She hit the plane that was testing engine on the ground.
    Lessons: