What happened
On July 22, 2015, a skydiver was participating in a jump session at the Bielsko-Biała (EPBA) aerodrome. The weather conditions at the time of the incident were characterized by a temperature of 28 ºC and a ground wind speed of 1 m/s. The jump, performed using a Pilot 135 parachute, proceeded normally from the initial exit from the aircraft through the descent phase.
As the skydiver approached the landing area, the intention was to execute a 180-degree turn to align with the landing direction. However, the turn was initiated at an insufficient altitude. Despite this, the skydiver attempted to complete the maneuver toward the designated landing path. The landing resulted in a hard impact with the legs tucked, at an angle of approximately 30 degrees from the intended direction, having only completed a 150-degree turn. The skydiver sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing maneuver and the environmental conditions. The examiner reviewed the skydiver's experience, noting that the individual had completed 315 total jumps, including 150 jumps using the Pilot 135 model.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was performing the landing turn at too low an altitude or using improper technique.
- Environmental factors, specifically high temperatures and near-calm wind conditions, were noted as relevant to landing pattern construction.