What happened
On May 12, 2018, a student parachutist exited an An-2 aircraft at an altitude of 1,200 m AGL during a training jump at Mladá Boleslav Aerodrome (LKMB). Following the deployment of the main parachute, a VO-03 model, the canopy began to rotate rapidly to the left. This rotation was caused by the spontaneous release of a steering line from its metal rings during the opening sequence.
The parachutist entered a high-speed spiral, which continued for approximately 30 seconds. At an altitude of roughly 180 m AGL, the parachutist attempted to jettison the main parachute. However, due to the extreme centrifugal forces and stress, the deployment was incomplete; the left steering line remained attached to the harness, causing the right side of the canopy to collapse.
In an attempt to rectify the situation, the parachutist manually activated the reserve parachute. Due to the low altitude and the reduced vertical descent rate caused by the partially collapsed main canopy, the reserve parachute did not have sufficient time to fully inflate. The parachutist struck the ground with fatal injuries.
The investigation
An investigation by the ÚZPLN established that the parachutist, while medically and legally qualified, was relatively inexperienced, having had a one-year hiatus from jumping. The investigation examined the equipment, including the VO-03 main parachute, the SUPER RAVEN 218-M reserve parachute, and the VIGIL CUATRO automatic activation device (AAD).
Investigators reviewed video footage from a bystander and an industrial camera, as well as witness statements from instructors and jumpmasters. The investigation also looked into the pre-jump preparation and the instructor's role in verifying the jumper's readiness and equipment familiarity.