What happened
On May 5, 2012, at approximately 16:35 CEST, a student parachutist was participating in a basic training course at the Plzeň – Líně airport. The individual, who was performing only his second jump of the day, exited an An-2 aircraft at an altitude of 1,200 m AGL.
During the descent, at an altitude of approximately 150–200 m AGL, the student began to experience rapid rotation and oscillation of the parachute. In an attempt to correct the flight path, the student performed a maneuver that likely caused the parachute to enter an unstable configuration. Believing the situation to be an emergency, the student jettisoned the main parachute at an altitude of only about 50 m AGL. While the reserve parachute activated immediately, the remaining altitude was insufficient for the canopy to fully inflate. The student struck the ground with high impact, sustaining fatal injuries.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the parachute equipment, the training organization's procedures, and the instructor's oversight. Technical analysis of the parachute system, including the Navigator 200 main canopy and the WP 175 reserve, revealed no mechanical failures or defects. The automatic activation device (Cypres 2) was functional but had been set to "expert" mode rather than "student" mode.
The investigation also reviewed the training protocols provided by the instructor. It was established that the instructor failed to provide the student with a radio for two-way communication and did not establish specific call signs. Furthermore, the instructor had assigned a main parachute that was not appropriately sized for the student's total weight, which included the weight of the gear and clothing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the decision to jettison the main parachute at an extremely low altitude.
- The student, being inexperienced, misjudged a controllable flight situation as an emergency.
- The instructor failed to ensure the student was equipped with the necessary communication tools and did not provide adequate instruction during the descent.
- The main parachute size was unsuitable for the student's total weight, which exceeded the manufacturer's recommended student weight limit.
- The automatic activation device was incorrectly configured to "expert" mode, which is inappropriate for a trainee.
- The instructor exceeded the permitted number of students under his direct supervision and failed to maintain continuous contact with the trainees during the jump.