History of the Flight
On 1 December 2024, at 1245 local time, a DHC-6-400 fixed-wing light-sport aircraft (registration A6-SD4) operated by Skydive Dubai departed on a commercial skydiving mission from Skydive Desert Drop Zone (DDZ) in Margham, Dubai. The aircraft carried 19 parachutists and one pilot. After takeoff, it ascended to approximately 13,000 feet. Among the participants was a parachutist attempting his fifth jump of the day, intending to execute a high-performance landing maneuver. He exited the aircraft at 5,500 feet and deployed his main parachute.
Footage from the parachutist's overhead camera recorded his descent. During the landing sequence, he performed several high-speed spiral turns in preparation for landing east of the DDZ. After completing two 360-degree spiral turns with the parachute fully deployed, he began descending at high speed. During a third spiral, he entered an uncontrolled freefall, leading to a severe ground impact at about 1304. The Operations Manager in the landing area contacted Dubai Emergency Medical Services. The parachutist was declared deceased upon impact; the ambulance confirmed the fatality shortly after arrival.
Injuries to Persons
Forensic examination identified multiple lacerations on the chin, right elbow, right ankle, and left foot, with extensive abrasions across the body. Hemorrhaging was observed on both sides of the chest, and fractures were detected in the rib cage, upper arms, pelvis, thighs, legs, feet, and lumbar vertebrae. Toxicology testing confirmed the absence of narcotics and alcohol. The death was attributed to severe traumatic injuries to the chest, abdomen, and limbs, leading to significant internal damage.
Parachutist Information
The parachutist, aged 38, weighed 70 kg and was 165 cm tall. He held a D3 license issued by the Parachute Association of the United States (USPA), valid until 31 December 2024, with ratings as Coach, Accelerated Freefall Instructor (AFF-I), and Tandem Instructor (TAN-I). His logbook recorded approximately 5,000 total jumps, including about 800 in 2024 across various drop zones, with 239 at DDZ.
Parachute Information
The main parachute was a Performance Designs Valkyrie VK-79, a high-performance 7-cell elliptical canopy. It had a flat area of 79 sq ft, span 14.98 ft, max chord 6.10 ft, flat aspect ratio 2.84, maximum deployed speed 120 kts, and maximum weight 221 lb (100 kg). The container was a UPT Mutant (serial number 83691), checked on 8 November 2024 and valid until 7 May 2025. The reserve canopy was a Performance Designs Optimum 113 (serial number 031166). The Automatic Activation Device (AAD) was a CYPRES C-Mode CYPRES 2. No Reserve Static Line (RSL) was fitted. The canopy featured a split leading edge, steep line trim, and low-drag line configuration with triple cascade lines and a multi-braking system.
Damage to the Parachute
An expert rigger's inspection identified two types of damage likely resulting from impact. The first was at the initial unloaded rib on the right side near the A1 line through the C1 area. The second was minor hole damage on the removable slider.
Types of Parachutes (Background)
The report notes that round parachutes descend almost vertically and are used for military cargo and emergencies. Ram-air rectangular canopies have larger surface areas and lower wing loading, suiting novice jumpers. Elliptical canopies offer higher performance but require advanced skills. During the accident, the parachutist was piloting an elliptical, high-performance parachute.