What happened
On September 10, 2017, a student parachutist performed a solo jump using an SL-1 parachute at the Mielec (EPML) aerodrome. The parachute deployed correctly during the descent. Initially, the parachutist drifted with the wind, but following radio instructions, the descent was corrected to fly into the wind.
The landing took place on the airport grounds, approximately 20 meters from the perimeter fence. The landing area was characterized by very uneven terrain. As the parachutist approached the ground, they positioned their legs wide apart, resulting in landing heavily on only one leg. This impact caused a fracture of the fibula.
The investigation
The investigation examined the descent profile, the environmental conditions, and the landing technique. At the time of the incident, surface wind speeds were recorded between 5 and 7 m/s. The investigation focused on the physical mechanics of the landing and the state of the landing zone.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the improper positioning of the legs during the landing phase, specifically landing on a single leg.
- The unevenness of the ground at the edge of the airfield acted as a contributing factor to the injury.