What happened
On July 15, 2017, a student skydiver was performing their second AFF (Accelerated Freefall) jump of the day at the Michałków aerodrome (EPOM). Following the deployment and successful inflation of the main parachute, the student observed that the slider did not appear to be in its expected position. The student perceived this as a dangerous malfunction and subsequently initiated full emergency procedures. The student successfully landed using the reserve parachute in a utility area of the airfield.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, examined the deployment sequence and the student's actions. The analysis focused on the student's observation that the slider had wrapped into the lines during the deployment process, which led to the decision to deploy the reserve.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the incorrect assessment of the situation by the student skydiver.
- The student identified the slider's position as an irregularity, which triggered the emergency response.
Safety action
Following the incident, the jump organizer reviewed the event with all students. Despite having conducted an expanded emergency procedure training session involving video material just one day prior, the organizer implemented additional advanced training for trained skydivers focusing on emergency maneuvers.