United States Parachute Association

1
United States Parachute Association
2001/2002
Fatality Summary
Causes and Prevention
PIA Symposium January 28-31, 2003
2
Total Membership 1991-2002
33,664 for 2002
3
Reported Injuries

2074
1432
1331
1275
4
Ratings 1995-2002
5
Licenses 1995-2002
6
Reported Malfunctions
4989
4303
4265
3854
7
Declining Numbers
The number of incident reports coming to USPA HQ
has been declining over the past few years. USPA
Cannot educate the Membership on dangerous
trends if incidents are not reported. These are
kept confidential and no names or locations are
published. Do your part and send USPA your
incident reports!
8
Percentage Of Fatalities Below and Above 200
Skydives
9
2001
Entanglements Canopy Control No Pull/Low Pull
10
2001 Experience Level
5
6
1
1
18
4
50, 4500, 450, 170 jumps
11
2001 Jump Numbers
11
8
8
7
1
12
At A Glance-The 3 largest Problem Areas
91
14
10
8
13
Canopy Control
2
Straight final approach, not looking before sashay
2
1st jump student hit building water landing in
strong winds
5
5
14
Canopy Control
11 Year Average 18.7
2001 Average 29
2002 Average 27
15
2001 Unintentional Low Turns That Resulted In A
Fatality
16
2001 Intentional High Performance Turns
That Resulted In A Fatality
17
10
2001 Entanglements
AAD fired reserve of unstable AFF student
Low deployment. AAD fired reserve into main canopy
1 wing suit, 1 tube
Freeflying, main bridle extracted
1 with RSL, 1 without
2 high experienced, 1 low experienced
18
2001 No/Low Pull 8
Reserve just inflated as he reached the ground
Released main at 500 ft.
1st time sky surfer, s/l student, 70 jump A
license holder
2 s/l students-no pull, 28 jump A
license-low pull
19
2001 Anomolies
20
2002
Canopy Control Collisions Landing Problems
21
2002 License categories
18
4
4
3
2
2
33, 160 and 500 jumps
22
2002 Jump Numbers
10
9
6
5
3
23
2002 Categories
9
5
1
6
5
7
24
2002-The 3 largest Problem Areas
14
88
10
5
25
2002 Low Turns
1,500
700
404
275
270
170
201 135
160
27
26
4 Pond Swoop Fatalities
Zabo
Little or No Canopy Training In Every Case
27
Intentional High Performance Landings 7
Pond swoop attempt, drugs
1,500
Pond swoop attempt
700
Recently downsized, warned
404
Pond swoop attempt
275
270
Recently downsized, warned
Pond swoop attempt
170
1.41 wing loading, 90degreeturn
160
28
Prevention
Education
Starting with early training such as the canopy
dive flows in the ISP and continuing through
advanced progression
Mentoring
Experienced canopy pilots need to make
themselves available for those who would like to
learn high performance canopy flight
Peer Pressure
The DZ environment should encourage safe canopy
approaches and discourage unsafe landings while
offering training
29
Unintentional Low Turns 2
201 jumps avoiding power lines
135 jumps avoiding a fence
30
Prevention
ISP Canopy Dive Flows
Wing Loading
Canopy dive flows used on each student training
jump will allow the student to learn how to
control their parachute using all of the
available control inputs. They will be better
prepared to fly in traffic and handle landing off
of the DZ.
Watch for jumpers who are showing signs of poor
canopy control and help them develop better
habits under a larger canopy before moving to a
smaller size. Make sure each jumper is prepared
when jumping a new canopy.
31
No Pulls 5
AFF student 13 jumps
Possible hard pull 33 jumps
No pull suicide 4,500 jumps
AFF I w/ student problem2,200 jumps
72 yr. old, new BOC, 1,200 jumps
32
Prevention
Altitude Awareness
Pay more attention to altitude Use of audible
altimeter as a back-up
Training
Plan the dive, dive the planPull the reserve if
unable to locate main handle Repeated E/P
harness sessions of the ISP will help to createa
solid foundation for a skydiver to build on
AADs
EquippedTurned On Calibrated Maintained to
factory standards
33
3
Emergency Procedures
PC in tow-jumper CAW then waited to deploy
reserve
1 Brake Line released, jumper flew canopy
w/risers-360 landing
1 Brake Line released on opening pulled reserve
w/o cutaway
34
Prevention
Training
Repeated emergency procedure practice using a
training harness can help build confidence in
emergency procedures
Decision Altitude
Emergency Procedures need to be carried out by
1,800 feet AGL for B-D License holders, 2,500
feet AGL for students and A License holders
35
Landing Problems 6
AFF Student landing in trees-poss. Medical
problem
Ocean landing in rough seas 700 jumps
High cutaway over water 780 jumps
Low cutaway/spinning reserve 2,500 jumps
Hard landing under spinning reserve-tandem
Canopy collapse in turbulence 521 jumps
36
Prevention
Opening Altitude
High wing loading requires higher opening
altitudes
Common Sense
Water can be just as hard as land Water training
review before making intentional water jumps
Ultra performance parachutes are not the best
choice in gusty wind conditions Potential h/p
canopy purchasers Need to make intelligent
choices and downsize gradually
37
Collisions 7
Canopy collision, one jumper turned into the
other
Jumper with new smaller canopy in heavy traffic
and low exp.
Canopy collision by 2 Jumpers with no CRW
training and no real dive plan
Jumper struck tail on exit
Freefall collision while freeflying900 jumps
38
Prevention
Preparation
Realistically assessing skill levels to make sure
the jumper can handle what they are getting
into. ISP canopy dive flows will help new
jumpers prepare to handle canopy traffic.
Education
Training that helps prepare jumpers for the
equipment they will be using or the
environment they will be jumping in. Helps the
jumper to know when to say no until they are
properly prepared.
39
Reporting System
USPA HQ
STA
Regional Director
Trash
USPA Needs Your Reports
There is a procedure in place!
40
Final Comments
Better Training
68
Improved training, which begins with the
Integrated Student Program, could have reduced
the fatalities in 2001/2002 from 68 to 22.
Jumpers need a more solid foundation for
emergency procedures and canopy flying skills.
This will help them be better prepared to handle
problems that may not occur until years after
their student training has been finished.