| Description: This pro-rated jumper was blown off course and hit a telegraph pole during a demo. The jumper's son, who was also on the demo, reported that whilst flying along the edge of the field at approximately 900 feet he was hit by a huge gust of wind. His canopy (Cpectre 230 loaded at 1.1:1) almost collapsed but recoved by 300 feet. This left him downwind of the landing area with two sets of power lines either side of the road. The jumper was able to flair to clear the first set of lines and cleared the second set by a few inches on full drive, thanks to dip in the lines between the poles, soon after which he landed safely. His father made an almost identical flight except slightly to the side in the path of the pole. He struck the pole about 50ft up, shearing the top off bringing it down with him and the lines and impacted on a paved aprking lot. The jumper died from chect injuries in the hospital. |