What happened
On September 11, 2020, a student skydiver was performing their third jump as part of the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training program. The jump was conducted under the supervision of an instructor, with both participants maintaining radio communication throughout the descent. The student was using a Voyager 260 training parachute.
Following a successful deployment and a period of freefall, the student prepared for landing. While the approach to the landing zone was initially normal, the student initiated the flare maneuver too high. As the parachute descended, the student maintained a position with their legs extended forward, which resulted in a sliding landing. This maneuver caused an injury to the student's left leg.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of the landing phase and the student's physical orientation during touchdown. The commission confirmed that the parachute equipment, a Voyager 260, was appropriately selected for the student's weight and functioned correctly during the deployment phase.
Findings
- The primary cause of the injury was the incorrect body position maintained during the landing phase.
- The student performed the flare maneuver at an excessive altitude.
- The landing was characterized by a slide due to the legs being extended forward upon contact with the ground.
Safety action
As a preventive measure, additional training sessions were conducted for other students to practice and reinforce the correct landing body position.