What happened
On June 14, 2015, a student skydiver performing a jump from a Jak 12 M aircraft near Bielsko-Biała, Poland, was involved in a fatal accident. The jump was part of a training progression (task SL-1) following a six-month hiatus from the sport.
Upon exiting the aircraft at approximately 1,300 meters, the student experienced an ocular irritation that caused them to tilt their head downward, adopting an unstable body position. During the deployment of the Mars 330 main canopy, the student's leg became entangled in the parachute lines. The resulting malfunction caused the canopy to spin, leaving the student hanging vertically in an inverted position.
An instructor on the ground, observing the malfunction via radio, instructed the student to cut away the main canopy. Following this instruction, the student deployed the reserve parachute; however, the reserve canopy became entangled with the still-attached main canopy. This entanglement caused a delayed and partial inflation of the reserve parachute, with only approximately five of the seven cells inflating. The student subsequently struck industrial buildings while descending and sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the equipment, including the Mars 330 main canopy, the Rush 250 Firebird reserve, and the Vigil II AAD automatic activation device. Inspections of the parachute rig revealed no signs of excessive wear or mechanical failure, though deformation of the RSL (Reserve Static Line) handle indicated the system had functioned as intended.
The investigation focused on the student's body position during the deployment phase and the sequence of the canopy entanglement. Investigators analyzed the student's training history, noting that while they had completed theoretical and practical training in 2013 and 2014, the recent long break from jumping meant that proper deployment postures had not yet become instinctive habits.