What happened
On June 5, 2003, at approximately 13:23 UTC, a fatal accident occurred in a cornfield adjacent to the sports ground in Lochen, Upper Austria. The incident took place during a training session for a European Cup skydiving competition being hosted by a local sports club.
The deceased, a member of the club acting as a volunteer, participated in training jumps that day. The jump was conducted from a Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter carrying a pilot, a co-pilot, and four skydivers. Witnesses reported that the parachute deployed normally after the jump, with no visible signs of equipment malfunction or difficulty during the descent.
However, during the landing approach to the Lochen sports ground, the skydiver highly likely misjudged the altitude and executed a turn. This maneuver caused the skydiver to descend into a nearby cornfield, where they struck the ground with significant force, specifically impacting the head and chest. Despite immediate resuscitation efforts by emergency physicians and Red Cross paramedics, the skydiver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the Federal Safety Investigation Office (SUB), reconstructed the sequence of events using statements from the aircraft crew, fellow skydivers on the ground, and local authorities. The investigation included the seizure of the parachute and harness for examination and an autopsy of the deceased.
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were favorable, characterized by clear skies, a temperature of approximately 30 degrees Celsius, and a light wind of about 5 meters per second. There was no evidence of any pre-existing physical or mental impairment affecting the skydiver.