What happened
On July 16, 2011, at 14:37 UTC, a tandem skydive occurred at the Jihlava-Henčov airport (LKJI). The jump was performed from an altitude of 3,500 m using a Cessna 206, registration OK-RFC. The descent and parachute deployment of the Sigma 370 tandem system proceeded normally.
As the pilot maneuvered the parachute toward the designated landing area at approximately 50 m altitude, the descent path was abruptly shortened. The pilot encountered a sudden thermal gust that caused the parachute to drift toward a wire fence. To avoid the risk of the passenger striking the steel cable, the pilot executed an evasive maneuver at a very low altitude, resulting in a hard impact on the grassy terrain.
The pilot remained uninjured, but the passenger sustained serious injuries, specifically two fractured vertebrae and a fractured part of the coccyx, and was transported to the hospital in Javelin.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the pilot's experience, the maintenance of the parachute equipment, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation noted that while the pilot was highly experienced, with over 3,600 total jumps, the video footage of the final landing phase was unavailable for review. The investigation also confirmed that the tandem equipment, including the main and reserve parachutes, was properly maintained and functioned without mechanical failure.