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2013 Fatality Summary. United States Parachute Association. 24 in 2013. 1961-2013 Fatalities. Five-Year Averages 1999-2013. Ten-Year Averages 1960-2010. 42.5. 34.1. 32.3. 28.6. 25.8. 22.2. (2010s average only for 4 years). 2013 Fatalities. 24 Total.
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2013 Fatality Summary UnitedStates ParachuteAssociation
24 in 2013 1961-2013 Fatalities
Ten-Year Averages 1960-2010 42.5 34.1 32.3 28.6 25.8 22.2 (2010s average only for 4 years)
2013 Fatalities 24 Total
2013 Canopy Related Fatalities 38% 9 Total
Canopy Collision Fatalities 1999-2013
Intentional High-Performance Landings—4 Three of the four had little experience with High-performance landings. The fourth jumper attempted to swoop through a congested area that did not allow for any errors.
Intentional vs. Unintentional Low Turns Unintentional—Trying to avoid an obstacle or face into the wind with a last-second turn. Intentional—Trying to make a high-performance landing and misjudging the turn.
Total Fatalities vs. Canopy-Related Fatalities
Equipment Problems-2 • Hard main canopy opening led to one fatality. • A jumper unthreaded his chest strap under canopy and came out of his harness.
No/Low Pull—5 • Neither an instructor or his student deployed and both had AAD activations. Both • struck the ground before the reserves could fully inflate. • A jumper exited a helicopter flying above a mountain range wearing a wingsuit. He • was never found after an extensive search. • A jumper exited an airplane at 28,000 feet and never deployed his parachute. He was • not equipped with an AAD. • A jumper slipped off the wing of a biplane aircraft at approximately 1,000 feet. He did not • deploy a main or reserve parachute before he struck the ground.
Cutaway-No/Low Reserve Pull-5 All 5 fatalities were very experienced. Four were not equipped with a Reserve Static Line or Main Assisted Reserve Device which may have changed the outcome. A tandem cutaway was too low for the reserve to fully inflate. It could not be determined why the cutaway occurred at an apparently very low altitude.
Drowning-1 A tandem pair attempted to beat a fast-moving squall line producing high winds and rain. After opening the main canopy, the pair were blown out over a lake, and landed in the water. The tandem instructor disconnected the student, climbed out of the harness, and they both started swimming towards shore. Only the student made it.
Student Skydivers-3 • A n Unintentional Low Turn • A Tail Strike Exiting A Climbing Cessna Caravan • A No-Pull
Lessons Learned • Skydivers must improve canopy skills at every level of experience, from student to expert. • Regardless of wing-loading, a low turn can lead to a fatality. • Spinning malfunctions can rapidly lose altitude and require a fast response. • Skydivers need to learn more about their equipment, pack properly, maintain equipment properly and get gear checks before boarding and before exit. • Use of AADs and RSLs can help to prevent fatalities. • Similar mistakes are repeated almost every year. Skydivers need to learn where the mistakes are made and take steps to avoid repeating them.