10 Matches (out of a total of 833 incidents)
  1. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    18/06/1996 Cedar City, UT MAL,DMAL 54 14000 Y/Y    
    Description: Strong Enterprises confirms that a Strong Tandem Examiner and Candidate died on a tandem jump during an instructor certification course at Cedar Valley. The examiner was in the passenger position, and Tandem instructor candidate was in the back position. They exited at 9,000 feet AGL, and did deploy the drogue. One drogue release handle was pulled; the main malfunctioned and was not cut away. The reserve was activated, but the canopy entangled with the main and/or drogue. Reports indicate a half-hitch knot of the drogue bridle below the throwout handle, resulting in incomplete drouge inflation and corresponding lack of drag for main bag extraction.
    Lessons:Tandem rigs have many handles.
    Name Ronald Green
  2. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    25/10/1998 Laurel, DE LAND 29 500 ?/?    
    Description: He organized a 12 way freefly. The dive exited and went as planned, with a clean breakoff at 5K. Everyone had a clean opening. The deceased intentionally stalled his canopy several times as he had planned to do (to give a good show). At around 1000', on his 3rd stall, he let the brakes up very quickly to end the stall, causing the canopy to dive radically while the re-inflation shock jerked him upward, and into the lines of the diving canopy. His feet became tangled with the line groups and a violent spin began. Around 500' his reserve pilot chute was deployed, but immediately entangled the main. He streamered (spiraled) in and impacted head first into an asphalt road. The reserve was found out, but never had time to fully inflate. The cutaway handle and reserve were both found nearby. A clean cutaway was not possible because of the self induced entanglement. The deceased was not known for radical canopy manuevers, and seldom made turns below 500'. Turbulence was not likely a factor, as it was a mild day with light winds. He was jumping a Jedei 150 at a wingloading of about 1.35 lb/ft^2.
    Lessons:Radical canopy maneuvers carry an extra risk. Once the situation developed, it appears there were no available options to correct the situation, and that all options had been attempted. Even a hook knife would have been of little use at that altitude.
    Name Aaron Britton
  3. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    19/06/1999 Texel, Netherlands LOWT 35 5300 ?/?    
    Description: The deceased performed an intentional low 360-degree (front-riser) turn prior to landing, one that turned out to be too low. He died instantly from the landing. Observers thought that his altitude was insufficient even for a 180 degree turn. He was jumping a Javelin with an Impulse 105 main. He was very experienced with low turns prior to landing (a 360 was typical), was both AFF- and Tandem-rated, flew camera, and was generally well regarded as a competent, safe skydiver. The canopy was loaded at approximately 1.5-1.7 lb/ft^2.
    Lessons:Intentional low turns prior to landing are fun, and can kill you if performed incorrectly even once. There is some evidence to suggest that the length of one's swoop isn't greatly increased by exceeding 180 degree turns.
    Name Ronald van Agteren
  4. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    17/02/2000 Tanacos, Portugal LOWT 46 1500 ?/?    
    Description: The jumper was about 200 feet when he made the final 180 degree turn and faced into the wind when - without any plausible or visible reason and before returning to the vertical position - he made another 180. At the moment of impact he was in the maximum accelration of the turn with the canopy lower than he was. He was one of the most popular jumpers in Portugal.
    Lessons:
    Name Luis Augusto de Noronha Krug
  5. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    14/07/2002 Skydive Chicago, IL LOWT 33 1500 ?/?   #176533
    Description: Passmore was the final diver and as he came in, he made a sharp hook turn and pancaked onto the water, severing his aorta and causing numerous other internal injuries, according to the autopsy report.
    Lessons:
    USPA Description: After an eventful freefall and initial canopy descent, this jumper attempted to swoop a pond by making a low toggle turn at approximately 50 to 60 feet. He narrowly missed a dock and struck the water hard while nearly level with the canopy. He was pulled from the water immediately and received CPR from a jumper, who was also a doctor, until the ambulance arrived. However, he died as a result of the injuries sustained from the hard impact with the water.
    USPA Conclusions:This jumper was attempting to swoop a pond that was surrounded by trees and buildings, which limimted his options for his approach to the water. It was reported that he had very little experience with high-performance landings. Jhis final turn at such a low altitude (50 to 60 feet) was too low for the canopy to return to straight and level flight before he impacted the water.
    During a high-spoeed impact, landing in water may not prevent seriou sinjuries. Jumpers who are attempting difficult landings must be aware of the risks of limiting their landing options. They need to be able to abort the attempt with enough altitude to make a safe landing in a clear area if there is any problem with the approach.
    Name Ronald Passmore Jr
  6. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    26/06/2004 Napoleon Skydiving Center, MI LOWT 46 1116 N/N 30 #113212
    Description: On the jumpers fourth jump of the day he performed a radical turn low to the ground and impacted at the same as his parachute.
    Lessons:
    USPA Description: After an uneventful freefall and initial canopy descent, this jumper was observed initiating a turn to final approach by rapidly pulling his left toggle. He performed the maneuver over a paved parking area near the edge of the landing area. The canopy spun into line twists as it partially collapsed, resulting in an uncontrollable spin for the final few seconds before impact with the ground. He received immediate medical attention but died from his injuries.
    USPA Conclusions:This jumper had recently been trying several different cross-braced canopies of different sizes from different manufacturers. The report did not indicate how much training or experience he had flying high-performance parachutes. Although he had more than 1,100 jumps, he had made them over 14 years, with only 64 jumps made in the past 12 months.
    The hard toggle turn may have created the spinning line twist on its own, or turbulence may have affected the canopy as the jumper initiated the turn. Jumpers had reported experiencing thermal activity and turbulence in the same area throughout the day. Several jumpers reported hearing the canopy make a "ruffling" noise, which caused them to look up and see the canopy already in a spinning line twist.
    USPA receives several reports each year involving jumpers who induce line twists from radical toggle input. Most of the incidents occur with enough altitude to allow the jumpers to kick out of the twists before reaching the ground; however, several have occurred at low altitudes, resulting in fatalities. All jumpers should learn the limits of the equipment they choose to jump. Even larger parachutes at light wing loadings have been known to spin into line twists with an aggressive toggle turn. Category G of the Integrated Student Program contains training and exercises regarding rapid toggle turns designed to help jumpers learn the limits of each new canopy they jump. Jumpers should perform all of the exercises above 2,500 feet to allow enough altitude in case of an induced line twist and to provide the jumper with enough time and altitude to initiate emergency procedures.
    Before beginning training on high-performance canopies, jumpers should consult the recommendations in Section 6-10 of the Skydiver's Information Manual and complete advanced canopy training according to SIM Section 6-11. Jumpers who desire to jump high-performance canopies should seek training from an experienced high-performance canopy pilot.
    Name Ronald S. Culver
  7. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    04/07/2004 Mercyhurst College, PA LAND 51 2000 ?/? 33 #1142939
    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.
    Lessons:
    Name Darrell Breakiron
  8. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    15/01/2005 Skydive Dallas, TX MAL 47 99 Y/Y 82 #1436621
    Description: The deceased took part in a freeflyer skydive, broke off at 5,00 feet, and deployed at 3,000 feet. The deceased's canopy opened with line twists which he had cleared by 2000 feet. At approximately 300 feet the canopy started a left-hand spiral and continued until impact. It is suspected that the slider had come down past the soft link slider stop on the left rear riser, and the right toggle was unstowed, creating a left-hand turn.

    The deceased was the brother of another recent incident
    Lessons:
    USPA Description: After an uneventful freefall, this jumper was observed to enter a spin under canopy at about 300 feet that continued until impact in a remote area. After a short search, rescuers found the jumper and administered first aid until a doctor pronounced him dead at the scene.
    USPA Conclusions:Witnesses reported seeing this jumper deploy at approximately 3,000 feet and open with line twists that continued until the jumper finally cleared them at approximately 1,500 feet. At that point, he was observed to be flying the parachute toward the drop zone. To the witnesses, the canopy appeared to be flying normally prior to the fatal spin. However, inspection of the gear revealed that the left brake system was still locked and stowed, with the right one released. The left-rear slider grommet was below the connector link and around the stowed brake system, constricting and possibly jamming it. The right-rear slider grommet was below the connector link on its riser but above the steering toggle and control-line guide ring. Both of the slider. drawstrings were locked in the collapsed position. Several possible scenarios could explain this accident, but it is difficult to conclude without knowing the jumper’s habits after opening or in what order he might have been reacting to routine equipment problems endemic to his slider, riser and brake system combination. The right-side brake could have released at any time: during deployment, while he was trying to free the line twist or while he was trying to collapse or stow the slider. Alternatively, the jumper could have released the right-side brake himself during the course of events that followed. The left-rear slider grommet could have jammed over the brake system during opening, while the jumper was collapsing the slider or while he was trying to pull the slider below the brake system to stow it. Or he may have attempted to release the brakes, discovered the jam, then wrestled with the problem below a safe altitude to cut away. Most jumpers adjust the slider soon after opening, but they must keep track of altitude when problems arise with the system to leave enough time to cut away from trouble. Care is required to prevent a premature brake release and to prevent the slider from later interfering with the brake system. Stowing the slider below the brake system requires even greater care and can result in more problems. In any case, a control problem below a safe cutaway altitude leaves a jumper with few choices. The only viable option may be to counter the turn by pulling the opposite control and prepare for a hard landing and PLF. Flaring may or may not be an option, but a jumper should determine this on a practice jump at a higher altitude. The medical cause of death was a torn aorta, which could result from a hard opening or a hard landing. In this case, there was no evidence of a hard opening. Jumpers should pick an altitude by which they will cut away the main parachute if it’s not already in a condition to land. The SIM recommends 2,500 feet for students and A-license holders and 1,800 feet for B license and up. This jumper’s better choice would have been to work with the canopy until that altitude, then cut away and deploy the reserve.
    Name
    Richard Allen Gerrond
  9. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    04/07/2005 Cross Keys, NJ CCOL 33 1960 ?/? 127 #1717283
    Description: The two collided under canopy at about 150 feet. Both received immediate attention but had died on impact.
    Lessons:
    USPA Description: These two jumpers were preparing to land with high-performance approaches. One initiated a 360-degree final turn as the other jumper initiated a 180-degree turn at nearly the same time but from a lower altitude. The two collided at an estimated 300 feet, then began to pinwheel around the entangled parachutes, making several revolutions before striking the ground. Both jumpers received immediate medical attention but were pronounced dead at the scene.
    USPA Conclusions:Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise and then seeing the two jumpers entangled together and unresponsive from the time of the collision until striking the ground. They did not see the angle at which the two jumpers collided. The jumpers either did not see each other or were unable to avoid the collision once each had committed to the final turn for landing. The risk of a canopy collision is greatest while in the landing pattern below 1,000 feet. Jumpers are often too focused on the landing area, rather than paying attention to canopy traffic. All jumpers need to remain clear of other canopy traffic and fly predictable landing patterns that allow for separation from other jumpers. This is especially critical for those who choose to fly parachutes at high wing loadings and make high-performance approaches. Before initiating a high-performance turn to landing, a jumper must make sure his airspace is clear in all directions throughout the turn. It was not reported whether either jumper had received professional canopy coaching. One of the first subjects covered by most professional canopy schools is canopy patterns, traffic and avoidance of others under canopy and in the landing area. Jumpers should plan each parachute descent to include a landing pattern in normal circumstances and an alternate landing plan in case of unusual circumstances such as traffic or obstacles in the landing area.
    Name Ron
  10. Date Location Category Age # Jumps AAD?/RSL? Dropzone.com Report Dropzone.com Discussion
    30/09/2005 Sky Knight SPC, WI MAL,NOP 58 358 N/N 163 #1856608
    DropZone.com Description: Jumper was filming a 5 way RW jump and on deployment the pilot chute when between the gap in the camera wing and his body. He then tried to use his hook knife to cut the trailing PC. He died when he failed to get a canopy out.
    Lessons:
    USPA Description: This jumper was videoing a 4-way group skydive and attempted to deploy his main canopy as the group broke off. The breakoff altitude was not reported. He pulled his rear-of-leg-mounted pilot chute through the gap in his camera wing, which resulted in an entanglement and a pilot-chute-in-tow malfunction. Witnesses observed him to roll over onto his back at this point and then return belly to earth. During this time, he grabbed his main pilot chute bridle and cut it with his hook knife. At some point, he pulled his cutaway handle. The main parachute never opened, and the jumper struck the ground without deploying his reserve.
    USPA Conclusions:As with most skydiving fatalities, a chain of events ultimately led to a fatal outcome. Break any of the links in the chain, and the results may have changed. This jumper was using a container with a leg-strap-mounted pilot chute pouch. Some camera suits, such as this one, include a gap near the hip that is large enough to reach through from the front and grab the pilot chute. In this case, pulling the pilot chute through this gap resulted in a horseshoe malfunction, with the pilot chute trapped by the wing of the jumpsuit, the main container open and the deployment bag still inside. Skydiver’s Information Manual Section 6-8 recommends that skydivers using camera wingsuits have deployment systems that are compatible with the suit. The rear-of-leg deployment system may not be the best to use with this kind of suit. A bottom-of-container-mounted pilot chute is safer for this type of wingsuit, since the jumper is less likely to reach through the gap in the wingsuit while pulling the pilot chute. Once this jumper realized the pilot chute was trapped, he used valuable altitude cutting the bridle with his hook knife. He cut the bridle just above the main canopy deployment bag, which freed the bridle from his jumpsuit but left the main bag with nothing to pull it off his back. At some point, he pulled the cutaway handle, but he apparently ran out of altitude before he could locate and pull his reserve ripcord. An automatic activation device may have changed the outcome of this incident. Additional equipment such as cameras and camera wingsuits adds complications to skydiving. All jumpers need thorough preparation and a solid foundation of skills before attempting to use any extra equipment. Skydiver’s Information Manual Section 6-8 provides information and guidance for videographers. Thorough preparation and practice of emergency procedures are necessary for all skydivers and even more so for those using extra equipment that may change or add to existing emergency procedures.
    Name Ronald Powell