What happened
On July 7, 2018, a student parachutist was performing an AFF-3 training jump. After completing the maneuver, the student deployed the parachute and maintained a stable canopy. The student executed a landing pattern over the Chrcynno (EPNC) aerodrome, aligning the parachute for a straight approach to the landing zone.
As the student descended to approximately 3 meters above the ground, a sudden gust of wind caused the parachute canopy to tilt to the right. The student failed to compensate for this sudden turn, resulting in a landing with excessive forward speed and an unstable body position. The student landed sideways with legs extended forward.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, focused on the sequence of events leading to the injury. The inquiry established that the impact occurred due to the combination of the wind gust and the student's landing technique.
Findings
- The primary cause of the injury was landing with high forward speed and side-on to the wind while the legs were extended.
- A wind gust significantly altered the parachute's flight path at a critical low altitude.
- The student did not implement necessary corrections to stabilize the canopy before touchdown.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator implemented preventive measures by instructing all parachutists to pay closer attention to their approach direction and landing techniques.