What happened
On August 7, 2015, a student skydiver was performing their first-ever jump (task SL-1) at the Depułtycze Królewskie aerodrome (EPCD). The jump proceeded without incident until the final approach to the landing area. As the student approached the ground, they failed to flare the Balance 260 parachute by pulling the steering lines. Consequently, the student landed with significant vertical momentum, striking their legs upon impact. The incident resulted in injuries to the student.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the training organizer, focused on the student's handling of the parachute during the landing phase. The inquiry established that the descent was stable until the moment of touchdown, at which point the lack of canopy control led to the impact.
Findings
The investigation identified two primary factors contributing to the incident:
- Failure to flare the parachute canopy prior to landing.
- Adoption of an improper body position for the landing sequence.