What happened
On September 10, 2021, during a scheduled skydiving session at Gliwice Airport (EPGL), two skydivers performing in wingsuits exited an aircraft at approximately 4,000 m AGL. The pair performed a coordinated flight before deploying their parachutes at an altitude of roughly 950 m, approximately 2 km southwest of the airfield.
After deployment, the skydiver's main parachute, a Sabre 170, performed a series of significant turns. At an altitude of approximately 300 m, the skydiver executed a flare maneuver, likely attempting to stabilize the canopy or assist in full inflation. However, at approximately 160 m AGL, the canopy entered a steep spiral descent. The skydiver struck the ground at a speed of approximately 97.9 km/h. Despite immediate resuscitation efforts by witnesses and medical personnel from the Polish Medical Air Rescue (LPR), the skydiver succumbed to multiple injuries at the scene.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation utilized data from the skydiver's Flysight GPS recorder, airport surveillance footage, and video recorded by another participant in the jump. Physical examination of the parachute was conducted at a local packing facility. The investigation noted that the skydiver was a highly experienced individual with 666 jumps and held relevant technical qualifications to personally inspect the equipment.
Investigators observed that the upper surfaces of cells 2 and 8 of the parachute canopy were torn. The investigation also noted that the slider was in an unclosed position and that some outer cells appeared underinflated. The investigation could not definitively determine if the canopy damage occurred during the deployment process or due to the high-pressure impact with the ground.
Findings
- The skydiver was operating a Sabre 170 parachute while wearing a wingsuit.
- The canopy experienced a stall and entered a steep spiral at 160 m AGL.
- There was evidence of tears in the upper surfaces of canopy cells 2 and 8.
- The skydiver performed troubleshooting maneuvers (flaring/pumping) below the 450 m decision altitude, which is the minimum height required to safely deploy a reserve parachute.
- Potential contributing factors include the steering lines becoming entangled with the wingsuit components or the canopy damage hindering steerability.