What happened
On August 1, 2015, a student skydiver participated in a training jump from an altitude of 4,000 meters at the Michałków airport (EPOM). This jump marked the student's third attempt of the day. The descent under the Scool 200 parachute proceeded according to plan without any complications until the final approach to the landing zone.
As the student prepared for touchdown at approximately 810 meters, they executed a landing turn. However, the student decelerated the forward speed of the parachute too early and at an incorrect altitude. During the maneuver, the student extended their right leg forward and inadvertently pulled the right steering line. This caused the parachute to land in a slight turn, resulting in the full impact load being absorbed by the right leg. The student lost balance and attempted to break the fall with their hand.
As a result of the impact, the student suffered fractures to the right radius and the right calcaneus.
The investigation
The investigation established that the sequence of events was driven by the student's handling of the parachute controls during the landing phase. The analysis focused on the timing of the deceleration and the physical movement of the student during the final meters of the descent.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an error in landing technique, specifically involving the premature braking of the parachute's forward speed and the subsequent loss of directional control prior to touchdown.
- The inadvertent pulling of the right steering line was triggered by the student's physical movement (extending the right leg) during the landing sequence.