What happened
On September 3, 2018, a tandem skydiving jump was conducted from an altitude of 4,000 meters. The flight proceeded without incident, with the parachute deploying at approximately 1,700 meters. The descent remained stable, and the passenger remained fully conscious throughout the flight.
The landing took place at the Chrcynno (EPNC) aerodrome on the operational part of the field, a location standard for tandem operators. The landing was performed into a stable northwest wind of approximately 4-5 m/s. As the instructor approached the landing area, which was being filmed by a nearby videographer, the instructor issued loud, repeated commands to the passenger to lift her legs into the proper landing position.
However, the passenger only raised her knees to waist height without using her hands, leaving her feet hanging low. Upon touchdown, the passenger's left foot tucked under her, resulting in a fracture of the left fibula above the ankle joint.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, examined the sequence of events leading to the injury. The inquiry focused on the passenger's adherence to landing procedures and the instructor's instructions during the final moments of the descent.
Findings
- The primary cause of the injury was the passenger's failure to follow the instructor's commands and the established landing protocols that had been practiced during pre-jump training.
- The passenger's failure to lift her feet sufficiently prevented a proper landing posture, leading to the foot buckling upon impact.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator increased the emphasis placed on leg-lifting training and proper landing positioning during the instruction of tandem passengers.