What happened
On August 9, 2017, a student skydiver was performing their first parachute jump using the "line opening" method. The descent initially proceeded without any issues. However, upon reaching an altitude of approximately 200 meters, the skydiver began executing a series of continuous, uncontrolled turns. This sequence of maneuvers continued until the skydiver struck the ground, resulting in fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on determining why the skydiver entered an uncontrolled descent. While the investigation confirmed that the impact with the ground occurred during one of these turns, the specific reason why the student began the series of continuous turns remains undetermined.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the skydiver's contact with the ground while in a turn.
- A contributing factor was the stress associated with performing a first parachute jump.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator conducted refresher training for the remaining group of student skydivers. This training focused on procedures for handling normal, special, and emergency situations during parachute jumps.