| Description: A skydiver from the midwest with about 225 jumps executed a low 180 degree toggle turn and impacted first the gravel parking lot adjacent to the landing area, then a pickup truck a few feet from the initial impact point. Several witnesses, including very experienced jumpers, witnessed the accident and his speed was estimated at 40 to 50 mph, which incidently is consistent with research I am doing using a variometer/airspeed indicator. He weighed about 175 pounds and was jumping a Sabre 135. The gear was in excellent condition because it was brand new. I haven't been able to find out his history yet, so I don't know if he had jumped similar canopies or had any history of hook turns. Witnesses agree that he had ample time and open area to choose some other landing pattern. Why he did what he did can't be known with any certainty, although there are lots of possible reasons. However, speculation won't do any good.
[The following information comes from his brother:]He had been in the sport for about 7 years as I recall, the last 4 being the active years. He had jumped Eloy previously and had made 2 jumps that day prior to his death, he had also jumped either the day before or two days prior to his death at Eloy. He was familiar with Eloy although it wasn't his home DZ, living in the Toledo Ohio area he had chosen Parachuting Service, Inc as his primary DZ located in Tecumseh Michigan. The canopy that he was jumping was new although he had prior experience jumping similar canopies, the Stiletto 135 being his first choice, but at any rate he did not have the experience necessary to be jumping this type of canopy with so few jumps. Having watched him jump previously and knowing his character I can only speculate that he did in fact execute a low altitude hook turn which tragically ended his life. He was a responsible person both socially and professionally (police officer) but did have the tendancy to hot dog when under canopy. I can only urge all my other fellow skydivers to jump responsibly, think before acting, and have the altutude and a predetermined plan to overcome a similar situation. Skydiving is a high risk sport but a safe sport if one respects it and only jumps with-in their capacity. |
| Lessons:[As Bryan Burke Wrote: Common denominators: both were from places with inclement winter weather so neither one was very current. Both were on slightly unfamiliar equipment - similar to what they were used to, but not the same. In each case there was nothing wrong with the gear, it was just operated incorrectly with fatal results. Each person had documented proof of having met the minimum performance and training standards for what they were doing, yet each clearly was not adequately prepared for what happened. The reaper is out there, and if you don't watch out he might just sneak up on you. Just because you have a piece of paper that says you know how to pull and land safely does not mean you will do it on every jump. Practice, observe, ask questions, learn everything you can, and always expect the unexpected. Better training and/or judgement certainly would have prevented these deaths. It never hurts to build a little backup into the system, either: an AAD and more conservative canopy choice, respectively, would have made a difference.] That's why I'm the D and TA - I have yet to advise someone they are being a little too safe. |