What happened
On August 12, 2018, a student skydiver was performing a training jump at Chrcynno Airport (EPNC). This was the student's second jump of the day and their 48th jump overall, following a three-month hiatus from the sport. While the first jump of the day, which was supervised by a trainee instructor, was completed successfully, the second jump—conducted solo—encountered complications.
During the descent, the student experienced a "lost handle" phenomenon, where they were unable to locate the deployment bag pilot chute. Despite having reviewed the necessary emergency protocols for such an event prior to the jump, the student did not initiate the prescribed emergency procedures. Instead, the student attempted to continue searching for the deployment bag without monitoring their altitude or the time elapsed. Furthermore, the student failed to respond to audible altitude warnings from the Pro Track device or monitor their altimeter.
As the altitude decreased, the Vigil 2+ automatic activation device triggered the deployment of the reserve parachute at approximately 300 meters. The student landed safely in the operational area of the airfield without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the student's actions following the loss of the deployment bag handle and the failure to adhere to established safety protocols. The investigation examined the training provided prior to the jump and the student's response to the audible alarms provided by the tracking equipment.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure of the student to implement the emergency procedures that had been specifically reviewed before the jump and which are outlined in the Skydiving Regulations.
- The student failed to monitor altitude or respond to critical audible alerts from the Pro Track device.
- The automatic activation of the reserve parachute prevented a high-speed impact.
Safety action
Following the incident, the investigating entities (Aeroklub Warszawski and SkyDive Warszawa) implemented several preventive measures:
- The student underwent additional theoretical and practical emergency procedure training using a suspended harness and simulated equipment.
- The incident was reviewed with all other skydivers at the facility to reinforce the importance of following emergency protocols.