What happened
On August 3, 2013, at approximately 18:10 local time, a fatal parachuting accident occurred at Klatovy airport (LKKT). The parachutist, a Dutch national, was participating in an international training course focused on high-speed landing maneuvers, known as swooping.
The aircraft, a Cessna R 182 Skylane (registration D-EKNM), had departed with four parachutists, climbing to an altitude of 1,50 and performing a landing approach toward runway 27. The parachutist exited the aircraft first. After a period of freefall, the main parachute, a Katana 135, was deployed and functioning correctly.
During the execution of a high-speed maneuver, the parachutist attempted to initiate a 270-degree turn. While performing directional corrections, the parachutist began the high-speed maneuver at an unsuitable location and altitude, north of the landing area near a wooded area. The pilot initiated a steep left turn by pulling the left front toggles, which quickly increased the descent speed. The turn, which was intended to be a 270-degree arc, was extended to approximately 360 degrees, likely in an attempt to avoid obstacles and reach the grassy landing zone. Following this rotation, the parachutist attempted to level the parachute for a steep descent; however, due to insufficient altitude, the maneuver could not be safely completed, resulting in a high-speed impact with the ground. The parachutist sustained fatal injuries, including severe head trauma, and passed away at the hospital.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the parachutist's experience, the functionality of the parachute equipment, the meteorological conditions, and the sequence of the maneuver using witness testimony and video recordings. The investigation confirmed that the parachutist was highly experienced, holding a category 'D' qualification, and had completed 886 jumps previously. The equipment, including the Katana 135 main parachute and the Smart 120 reserve, was found to be fully functional and compliant with all regulations. Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable, with CAVOK conditions and light winds.
Findings
- The parachutist initiated the high-speed maneuver at an inappropriate location and at an insufficient altitude.
- The pilot performed an unplanned 90-degree extension of the turn (from 270 to 360 degrees) to reach the landing area.
- The pilot failed to terminate the high-speed maneuver in a timely manner.
- The improper initiation of the 270-degree turn prevented the successful execution of the final steep descent recovery.