Aneurysm 0 #1 August 28, 2001 For the second time in seven months we've lost a static line student, again one that might have been saved if the reserve procedures had been correctly executed.The first student exited a Caravan at 3500ft agl, this exit is on video, the student was unstable on exit largely due to a bad body position and a propwash that many 100 jump+ skydivers would still struggle to deal with.The bad body position resulted in the student going through his lines and causing a line over. For reasons still unknown the student spiralled down to the ground, he was still concsious throughout the jump at for a while after impact.The second death was from a cessna 206 turbo. The aircraft has a turbo because of the high altitude our dropzone is at. Her exit was from a position standing on the wheel holding onto the strut, she went over backwards and through her lines. The lines became wrapped around her leg and the canopy was spiralling viciously after a second or two, she tried to get out of this for a large part of the way down until at approx. 500ft agl she released her reserve into the mess and then attempted to cut away. She died on impact.Obviously more vigourous measures will have to be taken to be sure a student is ready to handle an emergency situation.Our reserve procedure is as follows:ArchLookHandlesLeft Right ArchAll student harnesses are equipped with reserve static lines, no AAD.Both students were on their third jump, personally I remember my first feeling of complacency kicking in at the same time on my fourth jump. I was grounded for a hook turn because I was not thinking about the rule only where I wanted to land.I feel comfortable with our procedures and equipment and feel that we do make sure that every jump is well planned although now we are going to have to be a lot more strict with more drills and so on. But what is worrying me is the fact that the propwash from these planes make it very challenging for a student to exit well every time. When I did static line the thought of going through my lines and spiralling into the ground never crossed my mind.Is there any evidence to suggest that static line jumps are NOT compatible with such fast planes?Is there any correlation with these two accidents and other similar accidents?What other precautions can we as a club take to prevent this happenng again?Here now, sice the second accident the skies are dark and our moods are blue.Please help.geznam@hotmail.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iflyme 0 #2 August 28, 2001 This is very disheartening ... my heart goes out to the family and friends of the deceased...QuoteAll student harnesses are equipped with reserve static lines, no AAD.Student gear with no AAD ? This doesn't sound right ... here in Canada, and in the USA, I'm sure too, ALL student gear must be equipped with an AAD ... I don't know how an AAD would have affected these 2 skydivers, but certainly it is very unwise to have students jumping without this invaluable back-up device. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #3 August 28, 2001 My condolences for the losses. I see a lot of factors adding in here but dont really feel qualified to answer all of them with my 76 jumps. I would suggest AAD's for student gear. I have seen it save more than one student life in my less than two years in the sport."The cab driver said... he recognized my girly by the back of her head" -Beasty BoysClay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeffGordon 0 #4 August 28, 2001 QuoteOur reserve procedure is as follows:ArchLookHandlesLeft Right ArchOn my rig the cutaway handle is on the right. All of the student rigs we use are SOS systems. The cutaway cable is on the same handle as the reserve cable. The advantage here is the student doesn't have to think about which handle to pull first. The disadvantages of a SOS don't really apply to a static line student (Because the main will probably deploy and will need to be cutaway) QuoteAll student harnesses are equipped with reserve static lines, no AAD.In the US, the USPA requires an AAD on all student rigs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpervali 2 #5 August 28, 2001 It is very sad when anyone is involved in an accident. As an instructor I carry a lot of the misery home with me when a student is just simply injured, and ask myself what can I do to make sure this doesn't happen again. I am forced to look back on some of my introduction to instruction materials. What is learning? A new conditioned response or behavior to stimulus. Sounds scientific, but a student has to snap to an arch in a knee-jerk fashion. Also emergence handles must be pulled, and pulled again. It requires a lot of work on my part, and some discomfort to the student, But a little pain avoids a lot for all of us. I've seen the same thing with one of my students, but he cleared his cutaway at 2000 ft. and landed without injury.jumpervali Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tee 0 #6 August 28, 2001 My condolences to the families of these students. We have also had 2 students die in the past 3 years. 3 years ago, a girl was coming down on final, was following all of the radio directions until about 500 feet then cut away and her reserve didn't have time to fully inflate and she died. Then recently we had a student, also on their final approach, pull a toggle to their chest and do a 500 degree turn into the ground. We thought possibly he had a heart attack and that is why he didn't respond to the directions to lift both hands, but the autopsy didn't confirm that. It is hard to say what can be done to keep these unfortunate accidents from happening.Tee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sangiro 25 #7 August 28, 2001 Gerald,Sad to hear about this accident - particularly because Desert Skydivers in Windhoek is where I started skydiving. My condolences to her family and friends.I believe your emergency procedures ends with “right, left” to get the silk out…Safe swoopsSangiro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Donna 0 #8 August 28, 2001 QuoteOur reserve procedure is as follows:ArchLookHandlesLeft Right ArchI'm confused about that. What kind of system has a cutaway handle on the left and reserve handle on the right?Very sorry to hear about your losses.Skies,D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyke 0 #9 August 28, 2001 I am always amazed at how S/L students die...but these stories re-iterate the point....we are ALL suseptable to the improbable!Be safe...and my condolences to the kin...DZ, family, and otherwise.Kahurangi e Mahearangi,Pyke NZPF A - 2584USPA C- ????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
