1 Matches (out of a total of 833 incidents)

1. Date	Location	Category	Age	# Jumps	AAD?/RSL?	Dropzone.com Report	Dropzone.com Discussion
   16/05/2001	Sebastian, FL	MAL	33	14	Y/Y
   Description: This event occurred during an AFF Level VII skydive, accompanied by his JM and a cameraman (who was also an AFF JM). He began his briefed objectives and performed them, but lost altitude awareness and was still attempting maneuvers below the 6,000' stop-movement altitude. He realized his mistake, but lost stability and did not deploy either parachute. Both JM's tried to reach him, but could not get close enough. His CYPRES fired, but due to his extreme instability (flipping end over end), a horseshoe malfunction resulted. He landed in a river, and died from the impact with the water.
   Lessons:Even a CYPRES cannot keep you 100% safe, and reaching a significantly unstable skydiver is a big challenge. Your odds of survival on any skydive are greatly increased by a stable pull at the correct altitude.
   USPA Description: This jumper was making an AFF graduation jump from 13,500 feet. After a tumbling exit, he regained stability and intentionally initiated a backloop as part of the dive plan. He then lost and regained stability again. The report says that a 4,500 feet, he distinctly looked at his altimeter and then attempted to initiate tracking, which resulted in more tumbling. He continued to tumble until the AAD activated the reserve parachute. The jumper became entangled with the reserve lines and bridle. The reserve canopy released from the free bag just before the jumper fell into a small pond.
   USPA Conclusions:The jumper apparently had stability problems throughout the entire skydive. His performance on previous training jumps was not reported. His reaction at 4,500 feet, when he checked his altitude, should have been to deploy the main parachute. One of the advantages offered by USPA's Integrated Student Program is fewer tasks for students to focus on during the freefall portion of each skydive. Tracking skills are introduced only after the student has solidly demostrated and practiced stability recovery.