Dumpster 0 #101 December 1, 2004 Bear in mind this funneled jump was 242 jumps and about two years ago - In addition to a more suitable jumpsuit I've gotten more practice and guidance on bigger-way jumps, just as you suggest. Easy Does It Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpinjackflash 0 #102 December 1, 2004 I've got to jump in here.... Every time, I read something like this, I have an urge to do a little research. I pull up your (PCCoder) profile, and serach posted threads, and find your latest as???? Quote Crash Landing - Very Lucky Quote | Reply I had a crash landing today, jump 120. I did a 90 degree riser turn and got completey fixated on the wind blade in the middle of the field. By the time I realized I was too tow, it was too late and I bounced on my back/butt and flew through the air on my back stratling the wind blade and landed again and layed there. It seemed almost instantly everyone was on the field telling me not to move, etc. The ambulance arrived shortly afterwards and took me to the hospital. Believe it or not, all I have is a really sore and painful mid-back. I was shocked and suprised because while I was flying through the air after bouncing I was certain that I had completely hurt myself seriously. Many x-rays later showed that nothing was broken. However, the two doses of morphine at the hospital and the Loritabs I am taking right now are helping make it bearable. This only happened 7 hours ago, so I haven't truely had any time to really think about lessons learned. But one thing I am sure of is that I was completely lucky. It could have been so much worse. And, everytime I try to replay it in my mind and think about how quickly I realized the ground was coming up on me and then a sudden smack and bounce...it's almost nauseating. This is not the first time I have had issues with hiting the ground, only this is the first time I have done it with any decent amount of speed. About 50 jumps ago I flared a little late and bruised my cocyx, but was able to keep on jumping that day. Something I most definately need to learn from this is how critical it is to not ever loose focus of what I am doing and where I am in the sky. Also, I need to consider the very true reality of my not being ready to start such aggresive landing approaches like I have been for the past 20 jumps or so. Now, I'm not trying to stir the shit here, I just have to ask, do you still think reading these posts belongs in "Stupid Things I have Done"???? A little freaked out right now, as to both reading through this entire thread (couldn't help myself when I started, couldn't stop), then finding your little comment above, then, finding out what the latest news is on you??? Any correlation? jjfIt's a gas, gas, gas... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #103 December 1, 2004 QuoteActually, in the vein of the purpose of the thread then though, ...what, if anything do you think you could have done so as to have AVOIDED getting yourself into this "corner" (not a swoop corner, but an options corner) in the 1st place? I could have pulled higher to land last. I could have landed away from everyone. I could have not done the landing...But I thought I was clear. I could have told people what I was going to do. QuoteWas your view of the other canopies before setting up for landing somehow obstructed? The canopies in question were Velo's....They descend mush faster than my Stiletto. They must have been above me with my canopy blocking my vision."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craddock 0 #104 December 1, 2004 Night Jump at SDC. They had about 20 cars lined up in the main landing area. I went over and threw a big 270 hook and swooped the pond. The next day a good friend of mine, who had never talked about it before, decided he wanted to swoop the pond also(daytime of course) and came looking for advice on how to practice for it. A few weeks later he was Dead. That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pccoder 0 #105 December 1, 2004 QuoteNow, I'm not trying to stir the shit here, I just have to ask, do you still think reading these posts belongs in "Stupid Things I have Done"???? Yea you are. If you'd read through my entire post you'd have seen that I took full responsibility for what happened to me and admitted it was stupid. Do you have nothing better to do than to "rub it in" or "kick a man while he is down?" My original post in THIS thread was made in haste and I believe I posted later on that it was a mistake to make the comment that I did. Perhaps I should "research" you and dig up whatever crap I can find to try to embarass you publicly. Not sure if this is the "stupidist thing YOU have done", but it is stupid none the less. PcCoder.net Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpinjackflash 0 #106 December 1, 2004 No, not at all. Feel free, I do stupid shit every day. Which was the point of this entire thread, too which, you jumped in this thread, and remarked was "stupid". I just was dumbfounded when I read through this thread, and saw what your comment was, then found out you biffed. Blew my mind, that's all. You have to admit, your comment, made absolutely no sense.It's a gas, gas, gas... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #107 December 1, 2004 Guys please don't turn this into a bash thread. pccoder said something in haste and has since said he was wrong. I started this thread to show folks a few things: 1. That you WILL make mistakes. Newbie or old hand, you will screw up. How you react to that screw up decides if you will survive to learn the lesson, or if others will learn the lesson at your funeral. 2. I see a trend on here for people to not admit to making mistakes, or trying to hide or lie about the mistakes they made. Bill made a good post about a stupid thing he did and it got me to thinking that maybe we ALL should be honest about some of the dumb things we have done. By being honest and not hiding our mistakes others can learn from our moments of stupidity...And we all have them. Since I have made my fair share of really bad mistakes and choices, I decided that I would go first. I wanted others to know that everyone makes mistakes and that it is ok to admit them and share them. I would like this thread to continue since there are others that read these and think "How could that happen?". I want two things to come of this. I want people to be honest and admit and share when they screw up. I want others to learn from others mistakes before they make them. So please allow this to be a tool for absolving your stupid moments, and a place to learn."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrumpot 1 #108 December 1, 2004 -On jump #87 in 25 mph (known) winds ...later (after take off, but known to have been "likely" to actually pick UP) to be gusting over 30, I "panic-turned" my carcass into the ground, and 5 compression fractures (L1-L5) + 4 months worth of downtime as a result. All this because I had to drive @3hrs to/from the DZ & it was a "rare" warm enough winter day (Jan 3rd) so dog-gum it I was not going to "waste" that, and I was gonna JUMP! A weather front was coming, and "we" (I convinced just enough others to make the minimum load) were gonna BEAT IT! Lesson learned... you always have ANOTHER DAY, and there is plenty of time to jump! That is, unless you do something STUPID (like this) and take yourself OUT of it. No need to be so anxious & none of us is as indestructable as at that time I obviously felt I was. -Always talk about looking 1st, and it is YOUR jump to either make or not... Jump #853 (enough to maybe now know better, right?). Jump run light comes on & I open the door & look out. Can tell that the plane is "crabbing" laterally from the DZ, so the uppers must have changed. We are also already aside (stradling) the DZ by @ .5 & the "push" is obviously away. Started calling to the pilot for a 10-left (like THAT would have even been enough! ), but I have a full-face helmet. Right then the green light comes on (GPS based upon previously good jumprun spot), so naturally the tandemmasters begin their ritual yell ...GO, GO, GO, GO! Long story short, we went. ---1st AFF JM to come up to the door behind us looks out, closes the door & calls for a 90-left! After a 2-mile walk-back by me & my 4-way, lesson learned here was obvious! If I can think of any more (1st-person ones obviously only ...and I'm sure I've got 'em), I'll post 'em. THANKS RON for an excellent thread. Blue Skies, -Grantcoitus non circum - Moab Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #109 December 2, 2004 Back in the olden dayz... When reserves were up front where you could "fix 'em" if they didn't work... It was common practice to remove the bellywart when putting out static line students... Avoiding possible entanglement and unplanned deployment. NSTIW... Last student out, reeled the dope rope back in and YAHOO! Bomb out the door... only to realize midway into a back loop that the 'other' parachute was still back up in the aeroplane! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pccoder 0 #110 December 2, 2004 fair enough. i hope that many people learn from my mistake. at least that would be something good out of a crappy situation. PcCoder.net Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #111 December 2, 2004 Don't those arrogant sky gods piss you off!! If it was me I would have grabbed the reserve handle,pulled and said "Sure,are the tools in this pouch? " Great Post ,smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpinjackflash 0 #112 December 2, 2004 Truly, and? I was being a prick. I was irritated with PCCoder's comment when I read it. Though, my reaction to it was equally ignorant. I do see the need for this thread big time. I rely on everyones experience here and the things they've learned. As I know I'll make alot of mistakes on my own, I am trying desperately not to make all of them. Information like this is key to that. jIt's a gas, gas, gas... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisgr 0 #113 December 2, 2004 Early in my skydiving career, I was approaching the landing area and noticed a friend watching from the ground. At that point, I decided to ‘swoop the beer line’. I grabbed a riser, made an ugly turn and pounded myself into the ground. The canopy continued flying my bruised body another 50+ feet before depositing my pathetic carcass on the ground. A couple of people who witnessed the horror were very surprised to see me get up under my own power and were even more surprised that I was able to walk back to the hanger. I was extremely lucky to have only suffered some severe bruising and road rash. There was no plan or foresight into this turn. I did not use a conventional approach towards the beer line and I acted on an impulsive ‘need’ to show off. Some lessons: 1) swoop for your own pleasure … not to satisfy others 2) know when you are going to swoop and have a plan 3) be aware of your outs -- throughout your turn 4) know thy altitude – throughout your turn 5) be ready, willing and able to abort your swoop or swoop plans at any time The worst damage from this incident is that my friend has been left with the permanent image of my body pounding into the ground. Someone who cares about me – and who I care very much about –saw me almost permanently plant myself because of a foolish, impetuous mistake. The effects of the road rash can still be seen on parts of my legs, knees and ankles today and I hope they never heal. There is nothing I can do to remove that image from my friend’s memory, but I can do a lot now to avoid another incident. Thanks to all who continue to inform, discuss and educate through these forums. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BETO74 0 #114 December 2, 2004 Same thing happened to me, with the difference that I had no intentions to swoop and the expectator was my girlfriend and other skydivers, That's how I learned that PLF really does not applied to a swooper rather just slide, anyway came out with only bruises and a hurt ego, they told me that from the spectators perspective looked like call 911 landing, I also slide 30 ft or so staining my rig to this date there are spots that remind me of that landing.http://web.mac.com/ac057a/iWeb/AC057A/H0M3.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #115 December 8, 2004 About no. 175, had a really good 4-way jump. Was all excited and amped up and decided on the spur of the moment to try a downwind landing. Whoops. Next time I should look at the fucking windsock. It was far too windy for someone of my tender experience. A good PLF meant that I got away with some dirt on my rig and an earful from a lot of people. Not gonna do that again in a hurry. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloudi 0 #116 December 10, 2004 #75 Under canopy, focusing on the tetrahedron instead of the wind sock like I was used to. "Eat the carrot" doesn't work for those and they are just unreliable peices of sh*t! Scared many people on my final, myself included when I quickly realized that I was heading downwind (wind was probably 5-10) but I ran that unintentional downwinder out! I responded to every instructor who approached me with "I was looking at the stupid arrow" and every single one said, "ahhh, don't do that, look at the windsocks." Lesson: stick to your plan or at least follow traffic if a wind indicator confuses you! #148 Intended 4-way fell apart and turned to 2 2-ways. Lost sight of other 2 (one had recently recerted after 13 years off and was a back-sliding machine). Turned to track at planned break-off...hello! Inflated pc directly underneath me! Tracked like crazy! Video from other half of that 2-way doesn't do it justice. Lesson: Plan your dive and dive your plan. Know where everyone on your dive is at all times. Everyone is trying to kill you. Pre-#224 You know how you hold onto something when you're putting your legs through the leg straps? There's a good reason for that! Nothing like getting your leg caught in the strap, losing your balance, and injuring yourself before you even get in the plane. Doing it in front of a BMI you just met makes it even more special. Don't worry, his hair was not damaged in my incident. LOL! Sorry, couldn't resist! Chuck started it! Lesson: I am the poster child for how NOT to gear up! By the way, I'm a dork and it's a wonder that I've survived! Conclusion: It appears that I do something idiotic about every 75 jumps, so stay away from me at #300. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hipwrddude 0 #117 December 27, 2004 On a 6-way, the second jump at a new dropzone, 5 of us land in the trees. The moment I was under canopy I realized the landing was doomed—no outs, even at 2.5k! Forget about seeing God, I thought I saw Jesus! Performed the fetal tree landing and was overjoyed at my success at evading the Grim Reaper or Injury duty. Lesson Learned: Get the spot, check the spot, turn the plane around if you have to! A hundred jumps later I again land in 60’ high brush (ok, trees!@#$.) I landed right through the trees and stepped on the ground soft as could be. It was a confidence building, pride spanking moment –I got ripped on the ride back to the DZ (occurred in full view of my DZ.) Lesson Learned: When in doubt and above 1’000 feet (or higher, circumstance depending,) make that move for an alternate landing. Be aggressive, be decisive. It’s 120 degrees out and I’m on my first jump at Eloy. Under canopy, the tetrahedron looks so much like a wind sock, I fly downwind, flare high (for the temps,) and prove to those who saw me that, “He must be a friggin’ newby.” I’m not much of a lawbreaker, but at that moment I was trying to break the laws of Physics. I think they thought I had Teret’s the way I cursed myself out. Lesson Learned: Better to find out and be cool, then screw up and look like a fool. Although I’m Scuba qual, and was a Water Safety Survival Instructor, boy was I stupid to jump (okay, multiple jumps!@#$%) near water without a floatation device. If I had an “S” on my chest it would’ve been for STUPID! Lastly, easy jump, I’m bleeding off altitude as I spiral down, wind in my face, what a beautiful place! Here, the wind pushed my spiraling ass right off the DZ, I’m over trees (what else is new,) power lines (hello!) and now my landing area can fit a Porsche. I guess you can call it a “bathroom landing.” Through some miracle of intense concentration (and bladder control), I micro-pulse my canopy to land, shaking like a leaf, 10’ from a house surrounded by more obstacles then Neo in “The Matrix.” After that, I think I woke up in the middle of that night and called myself a liar. You're always the starter in your own life! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #118 December 27, 2004 at around 160 jumps we decided a innertube jump out of a cessna would be a good idea we used duct tape to put handles on it, of course the handles break as me and a friend are above it, it flies past us by about 3 feet maybe doing 30 mph... it woulda knocked us out cold. then one of my slip on sleeves slide off onto my pull hand, and it takes me till 2000 to get it off and pull. We are so far off from the DZ that i can't see the wind flag, so stupidly i decide to just pick a direction... turns out i choose downwind in about 20/25 mph winds. its such a terrible tumbling landing that one of the jumpers in the air thinks I must be unconcious and they come back in a truck and start checking ditches for my body. luckily all i did was bruise myself up rather well and couldn't jump for a week or two. MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #119 December 27, 2004 3 way ff after a long dive to catch the base, my ditter went off for its first alarm (5000), then immediately started the third (1200) warning i spooked, flipped to track and wacked the base with my foot. as soon as i was tracking off i realized how high we actually were. Fortunately i didnt hit him very hard. Unfortunately i realized even tho i'd last seen my alti at 9000ish i reacted the sound without checking my visual (alti or ground) and so corked dangerously. and then there was this stupid thing____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Springbock 0 #120 January 10, 2005 Quote.Oh and the 750 foot Cypres altitude we've all been told about is for a "belly to earth" orientation. The Cypres will fire much higher when you are head or foot first towards the planet. Is that correct? I have never heard about this fact and I would be surprised if this is true, anyone who knows better? Ups, is that a white canopy over me??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #121 January 10, 2005 QuoteIn Reply To -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- .Oh and the 750 foot Cypres altitude we've all been told about is for a "belly to earth" orientation. The Cypres will fire much higher when you are head or foot first towards the planet. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is that correct? I have never heard about this fact and I would be surprised if this is true, anyone who knows better? I think that is not 100 true. An AAD will fire higher than it should if you rotate from belly to earth to head down, or feet first (think standing up due ot deployment) due to the change in air pressure. If you are head down from two grand it should fire at the same altitude. Some think that they fire lower if you are head down...Kinda. You are moving much faster, so it will try and fire at the same time, but your increased airspeed will cause the opening to be lower than plan."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jurzak 0 #122 January 17, 2005 That seems to happen around 250 jumps! Mine was out of Mullins' down in coolidge. Ever sit up front with a tandem right behind you in copilot? Couldn't even reach around to my backside. (I tried!). Three way head down with Capistrant and Matt (Skydemon) broke off at 4 and one, two tries and my second reserve ride! Well 49 jumps in five days was still a good vacation!Fly through the sky and eat at the Y! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjrod 0 #123 January 19, 2005 HALO jump 28, night jump in the PI with combat equipment and O2 from 25K, I lost altitude awareness under canopy, Checked my alti around 1K, thought I was flying through low clouds, then thump, crash, can't breath. The low clouds were light fog on the ground...ouch/ Knocked the air out of me, and cracked my O2 mask. Luckily, I was flying at half brakes, and my ruck-sack hit the ground which kind of told me something is happening real fast. Lesson learned...always maintain altitude awareness.<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #124 August 9, 2005 bump"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,439 #125 August 9, 2005 Another similar thread. Repetition is good sometimes. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
