What happened
On June 2, 2019, at approximately 10:45 AM, a tandem skydiving accident occurred at the Mielec (EPML) airfield during a training jump conducted by the Tandem Sigma II 340 school. The jump originated from a Cessna 182, registration SP-DHD, at an altitude of 3,500 meters.
After exiting the aircraft and deploying the drogue parachute, the tandem instructor lost consciousness. During this period of unconsciousness, the tandem pair fell in an uncontrolled manner, stabilized only by the drogue parachute. After several seconds, the instructor briefly regained consciousness and deployed the main canopy at approximately 2,500 meters. However, the instructor subsequently lost consciousness a second time. Because the instructor was incapacitated, the main canopy was not flared, causing the parachute to enter a high-speed spiral. This centrifugal force caused the passenger to also lose consciousness. At an altitude of approximately 500 meters, the canopy transitioned into horizontal flight. The unconscious pair struck a tree located on private property between two houses before hitting the ground.
The investigation
The investigation utilized video evidence from the instructor's helmet camera and police findings. The footage confirmed that the instructor lost consciousness roughly 10 seconds after deploying the drogue parachute, resulting in a 15-second period of uncontrolled freefall. While the main canopy deployed correctly, the lack of manual input from the incapacitated crew caused the canopy to enter a flat spiral. The investigation noted that the control toggles remained in the flared position, but the crew remained unresponsive until impact.
Findings
- The direct cause of the accident was the tandem instructor's loss of consciousness during freefall and again following the deployment of the main canopy.
- The passenger also lost consciousness due to the forces generated during the uncontrolled spiral descent.
- Preliminary medical examinations suggested the instructor may have suffered a heart attack or a sudden faint.
- The passenger sustained a fractured femur during the impact.