| Date | Location | Category | Age | # Jumps | AAD?/RSL? | Dropzone.com Report | Dropzone.com Discussion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/08/2003 | Rantoul, IL | MAL | 59 | 546 | Y/N | #601645 | ||
| Description: Spinning mal (the pilot chute was entangled over the right side of the canopy and wound up in the suspention lines causing a right dive.), low cutaway, no rsl, airtec report cutaway just over 600 ft. and the cypres did not fire until 116ft. agl. | ||||||||
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| USPA Description: Winessed saw this jumper spinning under his main canopy at a low altitude, at which point the main was released. The reserve parachute began deployment but did not clear its freebag before the jumper reached the ground. He died at the scene from injuries sustained on impact. | ||||||||
| USPA Conclusions:The cause of the spinning main canopy was not discovered in the investigation of the equipment. Data from his audible altimeter indicated a main canopy deployment at 2,2200 feet AGL. Data from his automatic activation device indicated a main canopy release at 652 feet AGL and a reserve deployment (initiated by the AAD) beginning at 116 to 122 feet. The reserve ripcord was found still in its pocket, and the cutaway handle was found 50 feet from the jumper. Witnesses reported seeing the jumper "attempting to get stable" after the main canopy release. The Skydiver's Information Manual recommends that B-,C- and D-licensed jumpers decided upon and execute emergency procedures by 1,800 feet and students and A-license holders by 2,500 feet. Initiating emergency procedures at a higher altitude, pulling the reserve ripcord immediately after the cutaway or the use of a reserve static line may have provided this jumper enough time for the reserve parachute to fully inflate. When asked about the expectations of this model of AAD if cutting away below its preset firing altitude of 750 feet, the U.S. representative for the manufacturer recommended that a jumper forget he has one one, adding that an RSL provides a better back-up for low cutaways. At some point during the descent under a partial malfunction, it becomes too low for a safe cutaway, and jumpers should deploy the reserve without cutaway. The ISP recommends that students choose an altitude of 1,000 feet to make that decision and that licensed jumpers decided upon a minimum cutaway altitude before jumping. Frequent practice of emergency procedures helps enable jumpers to take correct action when faced with a malfunction. |
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| Name | Frank Ludvik | |||||||