What happened
On May 1, 2019, a training jump was conducted at the Chrcynno (EPNC) aerodrome as part of an AFF-1 instructional task. The jump was performed by a student parachutist accompanied by two instructors. While the aerial portion of the task was completed successfully, the student failed to monitor their position relative to the intended landing zone after deploying the main parachute. This lack of situational awareness caused the student to drift too far with the wind toward the southeastern edge of the airfield.
During the landing, the student performed a landing with a slight right turn, likely while the parachute was not fully decelerated. This maneuver resulted in a lateral fracture of the right ankle and ligament damage.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, examined the flight path and the student's actions during the descent. The inquiry focused on the student's inability to maintain spatial orientation and the physical mechanics of the landing impact.
Findings
- The primary cause of the injury was a lack of spatial orientation during the descent.
- The student failed to maintain the correct leg positioning required for a turning landing.
- The landing was executed with a turn and an insufficiently braked parachute.