| Date | Location | Category | Age | # Jumps | AAD?/RSL? | Dropzone.com Report | Dropzone.com Discussion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/05/2003 | Skydive Utah, UT | FFCOL,LAND | 23 | 250 | Y/N | #489681 | ||
| Description: The jumper was diving down to join to complete a seven way formation skydive but was unable to stop before he collided with another jumper hard. Both jumpers had canopies open for landing and seemed to be responsive, but the jumper who collided with the other appeared to lose conciousness at approximately 50 feet and struck the ground hard. He died from his injuries next day in hospital. It is not known if the injuries resulted from the freefall collision or the landing. | ||||||||
| Lessons:High speeds can be achieved when swooping a formation. Jumpers should be prudent and ensure they are able to slow down in time when approaching the formation. | ||||||||
| USPA Description: This jumper exited the airplane last in a 7-way belly-flying group jumping from 12,500 feet. At about 10,000 feet and while still diving, he struck another jumper in the formation. Both jumpers immediately deployed their main parachutes. At approximately 100 feet before landing, this jumper was observed to go limp in his harness. He landed hard while apparently incapacitated and without a landing flare. | ||||||||
| USPA Conclusions:This jumper evidently did not keep and eye on his progress as as he dove toward the formation, or he was unable to slow down before reaching it. In any event, the difference between his freefall speed and that of the formation resulted in a hard collision between him and the other jumper. The jumper who died was not wearing a helmet. He suffered head injuries from the collision itself, according to the medical personnel who responded to the accident. However, investigators reported that the landing injuries sustained from the hard, no-flare landing caused this jumper's death. His wing loading was estimated to be 1.4:1, which would provide substantial forward speed in an unflared landing. Either jumping within his limits, wearing a helmet or jumping a larger canopy may have changed the outcome of this accident. |
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| Name | Scott Stephenson | |||||||