What happened
On August 2, 2019, a tandem skydive occurred near Szymanów (EPWS) involving a Sigma 370 parachute. The jump was performed from an altitude of 4,000 meters using a Cessna 206 T aircraft. The pilot, an experienced skydiver with 1,948 total jumps, was performing his 511th tandem jump.
The main canopy opened correctly at an altitude of 1,700 meters, and the flight proceeded without issues until the landing pattern was being established. During the approach, the pilot executed a low-altitude turn of approximately 90 degrees, which caused the leading edges of the canopy to be directed toward the ground. This maneuver left only about two seconds of flight time before impact, which was insufficient for the canopy to fully react to the leveling of the flight path and complete its deceleration. Consequently, the parachute was only partially braked (to approximately 65% braking), resulting in a hard impact with the ground.
The impact caused one serious injury to the passenger, who suffered a fracture of the first lumbar vertebra and was transported to the hospital. The tandem pilot sustained a minor ankle contusion.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the landing approach and the mechanical behavior of the Sigma 370 canopy following the 90-degree turn. The inquiry established that the timing of the maneuver prevented the parachute from reaching a full braking state before ground contact.