What happened
On October 14, 2017, a skydiver performing a jump from an altitude of 3,000 meters experienced an incident during the landing phase at the Przylep (EPZP) aerodrome. While the descent proceeded normally, the skydiver attempted to execute a landing turn into the wind over an unutilized area of the airfield. During the final turn, the skydiver performed a 90-degree right turn to avoid a fence separating the active and inactive sections of the airfield. During the landing, the skydiver's foot struck a wooden bench, resulting in a dislocated right ankle and a fractured right calcaneus.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the user, examined the skydiver's approach and the environmental conditions at the time of the landing. The inquiry focused on the skydiver's assessment of altitude, ground speed, and wind velocity. It was established that the skydiver failed to accurately account for the wind speed at ground level, which had slightly increased compared to previous jumps performed earlier that day.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the skydiver's incorrect assessment of altitude relative to the ground.
- The skydiver also misjudged the wind speed, which had increased from the earlier daily average of 0–1 m/s to approximately 2–3 m/s.
- A contributing factor was the skydiver's failure to notice or account for the change in wind direction/speed indicated by a nearby windsock, located roughly 30–40 meters from the landing site.
Safety action
Following the incident, the jump manager, who witnessed the event, conducted a briefing with all skydivers to discuss the errors made during the landing phase and emphasized the necessity of monitoring changing atmospheric conditions. Additionally, the jump organizer implemented a new safety regulation prohibiting skydivers from flying below 100 meters over specifically designated zones of the aerodrome.