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2012 Fatality Summary. United States Parachute Association. USPA Membership 1956-2012. 1961-2012 Fatalities. Five-Year Averages 1998-2012. Ten-Year Averages 1960-2010. 42.5. 34.1. 32.3. 28.6. 25.8. 21.7. (2010s average only for 3 years). 2012 Fatalities. 19 Total.
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2012 Fatality Summary UnitedStates ParachuteAssociation
Ten-Year Averages 1960-2010 42.5 34.1 32.3 28.6 25.8 21.7 (2010s average only for 3 years)
2012 Fatalities 19 Total
Canopy Collision Fatalities 1999-2012 0 in 2012!
Landing Problems 1999-2012 0 in 2012!
Intentional High-Performance Landings—5 All five were relatively experienced jumpers. Misjudging the canopy’s recovery arc and descent rate at such high speeds is often fatal.
Unintentional Low Turns 1999-2012 0 in 2012!
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-6 • Hard main canopy openings led to three fatalities. A solo jumper and a tandem pair. • A student with 10-12 jumps landed under a spinning canopy. The pilot chute was • in front of one of the end cells. Very little information provided. • A very experienced jumper had a canopy collapse at approximately 100 feet after • passing through a dust devil. The main did not reinflate before he struck the ground. • A tandem student died and the instructor was injured after a drogue detached from • the main canopy and the main and reserve canopies entangled.
No/Low Pull—3 • Freefall Collision may have incapacitated jumper. No AAD and no handles pulled. • Jumper with 3,500 jumps exited solo and did not pull any handles. Suspected suicide. • He was not equipped with an AAD. • Jumper exited a paraglider wearing a wingsuit and a BASE rig. He deployed • his main too low for the canopy to fully inflate.
Lessons Learned • Skydivers must improve canopy skills at every level of experience, from student to expert. • Parachutes must be packed and maintained properly to help reduce the chances of experiencing a hard opening. • Skydivers need to spend more time practicing emergency procedures to help ensure a fast and correct response when a malfunction occurs. • Skydivers need to learn more about the 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.