What happened
On June 19, 2015, a student skydiver performing their first-ever jump experienced a malfunction during the deployment process. The jump took place at an altitude of 1,200 meters with the intention of a self-opening parachute. During the exit from the aircraft, the student separated from the plane in an unstable manner. This unstable exit caused the student's leg to become entangled in the parachute lines during the opening sequence. Additionally, the parachute canopy failed to inflate properly, resulting in a 'line over' condition (often referred to as a 'cauliflower' malfunction) where the lines divided the canopy.
Although the student managed to free their leg from the lines, the canopy remained deformed. The student subsequently deployed the reserve parachute and landed on the operational area of the Elbląg (EPEL) aerodrome. The incident resulted in one fatality/injury (the student sustained injuries).
The investigation
The investigation, concluded on August 10, 2015, examined the circumstances of the student's exit and the subsequent equipment behavior. Investigators reviewed information provided by the instructor, which suggested that the student's high level of stress, being their first jump, may have contributed to the improper exit technique.