What happened
On July 25, 2015, a student skydiver participating in a training session organized by Aeroklub Gliwicki performed a jump from an altitude of 1,200 meters. The objective of the jump was to practice maintaining a stable, flat belly-to-earth position for 10 seconds.
After exiting the aircraft, the student initially maintained a stable freefall. However, approximately 10 seconds into the descent, the student attempted to locate the pilot chute handle but was initially unsuccessful. Upon a second attempt, the student located and deployed the pilot chute. During this period of searching and maneuvering, the student lost their stable body position. Consequently, the pilot chute became entangled with the student's body, which prevented the deployment pin of the main parachute canopy from being extracted.
As the student continued to descend, the Vigil automatic activation device, configured to the "Student" mode, triggered the deployment of the reserve parachute. The student landed on terrain adjacent to the airfield without injury.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the freefall and the mechanical failure of the main canopy deployment. The investigation established that the loss of stable body position directly led to the entanglement of the pilot chute with the student's body, obstructing the release of the main parachute pin.
Findings
- The student adopted an improper body position during the deployment sequence.
- There was a failure to maintain altitude control during the freefall.
- The student did not initiate emergency procedures immediately after losing stability and experiencing the entanglement of the pilot chute.
Safety action
The training organizer conducted a briefing to review the incident. The session emphasized the necessity of the "two-attempt" rule for locating the handle and the requirement to immediately deploy the reserve parachute if the main deployment fails. Additionally, the student is required to undergo extra ground training using a harness and trolley before performing further jumps.