What happened
On May 18, 2019, a skydiver with 241 previous jumps was performing a jump from an altitude of 4,000 meters. The initial exit from the aircraft and the period of freefall proceeded without incident. However, as the skydiver reached approximately 1,200 meters and initiated the deployment of the main parachute, the right steering line became entangled. This malfunction caused the parachute to enter a spinning motion.
In response to the uncontrolled rotation, the skydiver manually released the main canopy and deployed the reserve parachute. The descent concluded with a landing in the vicinity of the Piotrków Trybunalski (EPPT) aerodrome. During the landing, the skydiver sustained fatal and serious injuries to the right leg, requiring emergency transport to a hospital.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, focused on the sequence of the parachute deployment and the subsequent landing conditions. The inquiry examined the mechanical behavior of the Skiper 170 canopy and the circumstances surrounding the impact with the ground.