Incident Reports

Description:
Jumper flew at a lower than normal altitude crosswind over the landing area. Made right turn to start down wing leg of pattern. Was only on down wind for only a second or two. Then proceeded to turn right onto base, continuing the turn onto final and incidentally into the ground.

On-staff medical assistance was on scene within 5 minutes. A truck was used to transport staff to the scene and a ladder was used to cross over a fence (The landing occurred off of airport property only about 20 yards from fence line).

Jumper was conscious and alert upon arrival with definitive knowledge that his leg was broken in the area of the femur. Once no other injuries were apparent, traction was applied to injured leg to stabilize until ambulance arrived.

Speculation:
The jumper was seen flying low over the runway (under 1500 feet per the drop zones rule). He then attempted to complete a full pattern to the right, rather than making a left hand turn (still facing into the wind) and landing off in the farmers field for a relatively uneventful landing.

Conclusions:

Description:
This jumper did a 2-way tracking jump and broke off at 5.5 and pulled at 4. They flew standard landing pattern, while on short final, went to half brakes and about 4-3 feet lost all lift and hit the ground, dislocated and fracturing both ankles along with a compound fracture to the right ankle. Called 911 while on the ground as this jumper was waiting for DZ ground support to show up.

Speculation:
Flew the landing pattern in a "strong" winds. While on short final, wind was steady out of the North and the jumper thought that he would land in half brakes. As soon as the jumper was established in their first stage of a two-stage landing flare, they lost all forward lift (low level wind shear) and hit the ground from about 4-3 feet. Their jump partner also mentioned that he had a bad landing due to the unexpected wind shift. Learned to jump at a drop zone with a high altitude landing area while keeping a 1:1 wing loading. Also completed their canopy course at the same DZ. Most of their jump history has been with coaching while taking every jump seriously. This jumper expressed that they do have less confidence landing at a high density DZ then landing at a low density DZ. It was something that they struggled with while jumping at their former location.

Conclusions:

Description:
Last load on a windy day, high winds are typical for this drop zone. Prevailing Delta surface winds had been from the North all day, but shifted during the afternoon and were from the southwest for this jump. After a normal 6 way FS jump, break off and opening, this jumper initially set up for a North landing pattern, which placed him cross/down wind for landing. He overshot the dz landing in a nearby ditch. Injury: compound fracture of Right Tibia-Fibula, repaired with surgery.

Speculation:
This jumper had been landing in the prevailing wind direction all day, but though he saw the windsock prior to his landing approach, he did not recognize that the wind direction had changed over 90 degrees, leading to a cross/down wind approach to landing in gusting wind.

Conclusions:

Description:
This jumper made a 270 turn to land. This jumper not recognize that he needed toggle input to shorten the recovery arc. Impacted and broke tibia and fibula.

Speculation:
Recently downsized to this canopy. Canopy had a longer recovery arc than previous canopy. Winds were light, and prior jumps on this canopy were in much stronger wind.

Conclusions:

Description:
This jumper routed their chest strap wrong, got 2 gear checks but they were concerned about my pilot chute. I forgot to remind them to check my chest area and 3 rings. As well as, I checked my chest strap with my fingers but didn't look down in order to see if it was routed properly. On opening I fell through the front straps of the harness and had no control over my canopy. Upon trying to turn the canopy with my body, my body position got worse. I landed in a field near the drop zone with no injuries.

Speculation:
This jumper routed their chest strap wrong and didn't make sure they got a proper gear check.

Conclusions:

Description:
Jumper reported at pull time that her knee locked out and began to spin. The jumper admitted to losing altitude awareness while trying to gain stability. Jumper reported pulling the main parachute at 1500’ the descent rate had not slowed enough and the A.A.D. fired at 1050’. A witness on the ground reported hearing a very loud opening, immediately looking up they saw both canopies inflated at the same time very low. Initially both canopies were flying together in a side by side configuration, at approximately 500’ the canopies separated. The reserve canopy was above her head and the main was below her feet flying straight and not diving. The jumper did not cutaway her main and at 30’ the canopies began to turn and down plane. The jumper landed off the drop zone to the south landing in 6’-10’ bushes and trees. The jumper was responsive and checked by medically trained staff, they did not find any serious injuries. The jumper was ambulatory from the landing site to the dz. The jumper was taken to the hospital by personal vehicle upon her request for a thorough exam. The jumper was released from the hospital with a broken tibia.

Speculation:
The jumper was on their second solo student jump at the time of the incident. Every morning all students need to be present for harness training emergency procedures class. During the class they are refreshed on pull priorities, emergency procedures, and landing priorities. The training for a side by side two out scenario is to steer the dominant canopy gently with the rear risers, keeping the canopies together, do not flare and prepare for a PLF on landing. They are taught to keep brakes stowed on both canopies, if they unstow one set they need to unstow both. The students are taught that if the canopies separate they need to cutaway the main parachute. Upon inspection of the gear the AAD was in working order and fired at the plus 300 foot altitude (1050’) that is set on all students or rental gear at this drop zone. At the scene the gear was checked and found that the toggles on the main canopy had been released. In conclusion the student first lost altitude awareness and pulled at or around the AAD firing altitude of 1050’. At 500’ the jumper released the toggles on the main parachute causing the canopies to separate. The student did not follow trained procedures when the canopies separated.

Conclusions:

Description:
Normal exit, FF and Activation of main canopy. During inflation the canopy spun up. Unable to untwist line twist before decision altitude. All remaining uneventful. Just noteworthy: DZO just put ten new Icuras World TX2 330 Steep canopies.

Conclusions:

Description:
Exit and drogue deployment was standard and anticipated. During drogue fall (midway) TI felt a buffeting of the drogue. TI looked over right shoulder and noticed nothing out of the ordinary. TI indicated to student to begin deployment of the main canopy. Student failed to locate primary release cord. TI moved to activate main deployment utilizing the secondary release. The secondary release was no longer in its' primary position. TI then executed emergence procedures thereby deploying the reserve without further incident. TI and student landed safely in the main landing area. Upon locating the cutaway canopy it was discovered that the main canopy had actually come out of the deployment bag.

Speculation:
TI surmised that the buffeting midway through the drogue fall was in fact the main canopy deploying prematurely into a streamer configuration which resulted in the primary and secondary drogue release handles moving out of position. The secondary release handle was not recovered.

Conclusions:

Description:
Line twists with a steep turn, unable to clear before decision altitude. [presumably, this instructor landed safely under his reserve]

Conclusions:

Description:
Student encountered an hard opening, discovered a broken break line while doing the canopy check, he then decided to cutaway and open his reserve parachute. Student landed safely with the reserve back to the landing area. He had some bruises on his thighs where the leg straps were on, due to the hard opening.

Speculation:
Brake line broke on the cat eye. S&TA discovered a slightly sharp edge on the toggle lock ring, it might be one of the causes of the broken line followed by the hard opening.

Conclusions: