What happened
On 11 April 2009, at approximately 1230Z, a skydiving operation at St Stithians School in Johannesburg resulted in a fatal accident. The parachutist exited the aircraft at an altitude of 2000 feet above ground level (AGL) in a stable position and initiated the deployment of a Hurricane170 main canopy.
During the deployment process, the main parachute experienced a "snivelling" effect before fully opening, which led to a rapid loss of altitude. This was followed by an opening error that sent the parachute into a spin and caused line twists. Although the parachutist attempted to rectify the malfunction, the descent continued to accelerate. The parachutist eventually released the main canopy and activated the reserve parachute. However, this emergency procedure occurred at such a low altitude that the jumper had only about seven seconds of flight time remaining. Consequently, there was insufficient time to steer the reserve canopy toward a clear landing area. The parachutist struck a motor vehicle in a car park and the ground with significant force, sustaining fatal injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the equipment used in the incident, which included a Vulcan container and a 170R reserve canopy. Inspections conducted by two master riggers determined that the equipment was in a satisfactory, airworthy condition. The investigation also noted that meteorological conditions were fine and did not contribute to the accident.
Findings
- The main parachute failed to open smoothly, causing an initial loss of altitude.
- An error during the opening sequence induced a spin and line twists in the main canopy.
- The decision to deploy the reserve parachute occurred at a critically low altitude.
- The impact occurred in a car park area, involving both the ground and a vehicle.
Safety action
- For demonstration jumps performed at lower altitudes, jumpers must perform rapid assessments of their equipment.
- If malfunctions are detected, jumpers should initiate reserve deployment drills immediately, as there is often insufficient time to correct main canopy issues during low-altitude operations.