What happened
On October 14, 2016, a training skydiving session was underway at the Rudniki (EPRU) airfield. The session, organized by the PARAPALTECH training center, involved several groups of students performing their first jumps. While initial wind conditions were within acceptable limits, wind speeds began to increase throughout the morning.
During the third group's descent from an altitude of 1200 meters, the wind became strong enough to push the jumpers away from the designated landing zone. Although an instructor provided radio instructions to the student skydiver to perform turns and position the parachute into the wind, the group was ultimately drifted beyond the airfield's operational area and into a forested area to the northwest.
One student landed in a tree, and another landed in a forest clearing without injury. The student skydiver, however, drifted into a cluster of trees. As the parachute canopy lost its aerodynamic properties upon hitting the top of a birch tree, the student slid down the trunk. Attempting to grab branches that were too weak to support her weight, the student fell from a significant height, landing on her back and sustaining serious spinal injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the wind conditions, the sequence of the jumps, and the instructions provided by the ground instructor. The investigation noted that while the instructor attempted to guide the student via radio, the increasing wind made maintaining the intended landing path impossible for the inexperienced jumpers. The investigation also noted that military paratroopers performing simultaneous jumps at the same airfield had already ceased their operations due to the deteriorating weather conditions.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to decide to abort the jumps as wind conditions intensified, which resulted in the third group being drifted into the woods.
- The low experience level of the students meant they were unable to timely correct their descent direction to avoid the forested area.
- The investigation suggested that the instructor may have felt pressure to complete the scheduled training session despite the worsening weather.
- The student's inability to maintain a proper heading during the initial phase of descent contributed to the drift.