What happened
On May 16, 2018, a student skydiver performed their first jump from an altitude of 1,000 meters as part of a scheduled training session. The jump utilized a Mars 330 parachute with an automatic deployment system. The student was the second of four jumpers in the group, all of whom were intended to land within the operational area of the Szczecin Dąbie (EPSD) airfield.
Following a successful separation from the aircraft and proper parachute deployment, the student attempted to steer the canopy. Despite receiving radio instructions from the instructor, the student actively maneuvered the parachute away from the designated landing zone. This resulted in the student landing in a wooded, marshy area approximately 8 to 10 meters above the ground, outside the airfield boundaries.
The location's marshy terrain prevented the use of heavy rescue equipment. Firefighting units arrived and attempted to use an air cushion to facilitate a rescue. During the operation, a firefighter fell approximately 10 meters from a tree and was hospitalized. To conclude the rescue, the instructor directed the student to detach from the main parachute harness and drop onto the deployed air cushion. Following the landing, the student was transported to a hospital, where medical examinations revealed neurological injuries and compression fractures in three vertebrae.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the student's flight path and the failure to adhere to landing instructions. The inquiry established that the student's maneuvers were contrary to the instructor's radio commands and the established landing procedures for the airfield.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to follow parachute usage rules and the lack of response to radio commands issued by the instructor.
- The student's intentional steering away from the airfield landing zone led to the landing in hazardous terrain.