What happened
On May 16, 2020, a group of six skydivers departed from the Bielsko-Biała (EPBA) aerodrome in a Short SC-7 Skyvan, registration SP-HOP, for a jump over an adventure area near Grodziec. Following the takeoff at 14:40 LMT, the aircraft proceeded to the drop zone located approximately 10 km west of the airfield.
After exiting the aircraft, five of the jumpers successfully formed a formation in the air before dispersing and deploying their parachutes. However, one skydiver drifted significantly far from the intended landing site. During the final approach to the ground, the skydiver attempted a maneuver with the wind at an altitude of only a few meters. This maneuver resulted in the skydiver striking the ground at approximately 14:55 LMT.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the flight sequence, the deployment of the parachutes, and the specific maneuvers performed by the skydiver during the landing phase. The investigation established that while the formation and parachute openings were successful, the skydiver's trajectory and subsequent low-altitude turn led to the impact.