| Date |
Location |
Category |
Age |
# Jumps |
AAD?/RSL? |
Dropzone.com Report |
Dropzone.com Discussion |
| 23/03/2002 |
Louisa, VA |
LAND |
33 |
521 |
N/N |
|
|
| Description: At about 50', this jumper executed a small turn into the wind, whish was blowing at 10mph, with gusts to 16mph. At this point, one side of his canopy collapsed -- the canopy then went into line twists and started to spin. The canopy was almost completely collapsed when he impacted the paved taxiway shortly thereafter. He was jumping a Xoas21 68 ft^2, loaded at approximately 2.1 lb/ft^2. |
| Lessons:Flying the newest, fastest, smaller canopies can add significant risk to your skydive. It is likely that wind turbulance (rotors) may have contributed to this incident. |
| USPA Description: Following an uneventful freefall and initial canopy descent, this jumper was reportedly on a straight-in final approach under a 68-square foot canopy, cross-braced, elliptical canopy on a windy day. When he reached a point approximately 40 to 60 feet above the landing area, witnesses observed the right side of his parachute abruptly fold underneath itself. They reported that the canopy immediately began to spin and collapse further until the jumper hit the taxiway below him. He died at the scene from inuries received during the hard landing. |
USPA Conclusions:Turbulence and winds may have been factors in the collapse of this canopy. Reports varied as to the conditions that existed during this landing for both wind speed and direction. During four readings recorded around the time of the accident, the airport's automated weather observation station reported winds favouring the length of the runway at speeds as low as nine knots but with gusts as high as 19 knots (22 mph).
The canopy was a 68-square-foot, cross-braced, elliptical design that was loaded at 2.13:1. The jumper declared his exit weight (with gear) at 145 pounds. The manufacturer lists on its order form only the maximum weight for this canopy, which is 163 pounds.
Since this fatality, there have been reports of three other cross-braced canopies collapsing in turbulent conditions, two resulting in injuries, but none with a fatal outcome. Those who purchase and jump these specialized designbs generally use them with very high wing loadings. Once a very highly loaded canopy collapses, it leaves very little extra material overhead to slow the jumper's descent. Since they are relatively new designs and not jumped by a large number of jumpers, less is known about how they will behave in the variety of conditions jumpers expose them to.
The jumper's previous canopy experience was not reported, but he reportedly met the manufacturer's 500-jump minimum for this canopy almost exactly. He had reportedly purchased the canopy approximately four months prior to the accident and made 21 jumps on it. Reportedly, the manufacturer intends to inspect and evaluate the canopy but had not received it from the FAA by press time. |
| Name |
Bob Kresge
|
| Date |
Location |
Category |
Age |
# Jumps |
AAD?/RSL? |
Dropzone.com Report |
Dropzone.com Discussion |
| 11/09/2005 |
Skydive Monroe, GA |
NOP |
73 |
6500 |
N/ |
144 |
#1824065 |
DropZone.com Description: "Jumper dropped grip on his pull out pilotchute handle after peeling it off the velco. Emergency procedures were late to be executed and the cutaway handle was found less then 100 the body. Jumper impacted with no canopies deployed.
The tall trees that the jumper impacted in appears to have snagged the main and pulled it out of the container and the forces from the terminal impact deployed the reserve.
Jumper was not jumping truely modern gear, but the pull out design is the same that many jumpers use.
Jumper had a stroke a few years back and was reported to have cognitive and short term memory loss due to this. Jumper had been grounded before jumping at several DZ's in the recent past." |
| Lessons: |
| Description: Toward the end of an uneventful 2-way freefall skydive, this jumper received an altitude signal from his freefall partner, who pointed at his own altimeter at 4,500 feet. This jumper then placed his hand on his main ripcord handle but did not deploy his main parachute. He died instantly on impact with neither the main nor reserve parachute deployed. |
| Conclusions:Investigators found the jumper’s main cutaway handle approximately 1,000 feet from his body. The main and reserve ripcord handles were both in place. The main and reserve containers had opened as a result of the impact. The jumper may have experienced a hard pull on his main ripcord or simply have been confused at pull time, but for whatever reason, he never pulled either his main or reserve ripcord. He was not wearing an altimeter of any type.
He had recently returned to jumping after suffering a stroke many years ago. The report did not indicate whether the drop zone knew of his medical condition or whether he had completed the USPA medical statement included in most drop zone waivers. At least one other DZ had previously turned him away when he could not demonstrate satisfactory emergency procedures. Those who jump with known medical conditions endanger not only themselves, but others in the air with them, as well as those on the ground. All jumpers need to practice emergency procedures frequently, especially after a long layoff. If a jumper cannot deploy his main parachute for any reason, he must immediately go to the reserve. An automatic activation device may have changed the outcome of this incident. |
| Name |
Bobby Frierson
|
