SkydivingFatalities.info - Search results

1 Matches (out of a total of 833 incidents)

Date	Location	Category	Age	# Jumps	AAD?/RSL?	Dropzone.com Discussion
04/07/2003	Hibaldstow, England	BIZ	20	200	?/?	#555023
Description: This incident is suspected murder. The bridle attaching the pilot chute extractor to the canopy and the reserve risers had been severed in such a way so that it would not be noticed unless the system was unpacked or closely inspected.
Lessons:
BPA Description: At approximately 14.20 hours on Friday the 4th July 2003, a ‘B’ Certificate parachutist with 212 descents, boarded a SMG-92 Turbo Finist aircraft at Target Skysports Parachute Centre in order to make a 3-way FS jump. The jump included a video cameraman. The aircraft climbed to approximately 13,000 ft where it ‘ran in’ over the top of the PLA. When the aircraft was at the estimated ‘Exit Point’ the parachutists exited, in two groups of four. The deceased being with the second group. Once the parachutes had deployed, only seven were observed and not eight as expected. A reserve parachute ‘freebag’ and a white deflated parachute were also observed in the air. As there was a parachutist missing the CCI dispatched two members of the club to search for the missing parachutist. After a short period of time one of the club members radioed back to the CCI stating that he had located the ‘freebag’ and a reserve parachute. The CCI then proceeded to where the club member had located the equipment and discovered that only a few inches of the risers were attached to the rigging lines of the reserve parachute. At this time the CCI immediately instigated the Clubs’ fatality procedures. A short while after, one of the club Instructors located the deceased, approximately 150-200ft from the equipment. A BPA Board of Inquiry was convened, consisting of the National Coach & Safety Officer and the Technical Officer. This inquiry was of a limited nature, as the fatality is the subject of a criminal investigation. The Board were only able to carry out a cursory examination of the equipment in situ and during the removal of the equipment. It was confirmed during the examination of the equipment that the main parachute bridle line had been severed. Also, all four reserve parachute risers had been severed. Neither the main parachute cutaway pad, nor the reserve parachute ripcord were with the equipment. Also, the AAD had been activated.
BPA Conclusions:The Conclusions of the Board are that the deceased had taken part in an FS jump, which went without incident until he attempted to deploy his main parachute. Once he extracted his ‘throwaway’ pilot chute and released it, it was unable to extract the main parachute from the container because the bridle line attaching the pilot chute to the top of the parachute had been severed. He then proceeded to carry out his emergency procedures, but as the reserve parachute ‘freebag’ and reserve parachute started to deploy, they detached from the harness completely because all four reserve parachute risers had been severed. The Board believe that the deceased's parachute equipment had been deliberately tampered with prior to the descent.
Name	Stephen Hilder