Skydive Chicago accident

[cypres420 0]

So, I drive to the the DZ on sunday to do my first Hop-n-Pop. On the way up I look out the window and see some people crowded around what looked like a persoen who landed in the corn field and they were helping him untangle the chute. I didnt think much of it, I have landed in a corn field before and it sucks getting it undone. Well, I land and everything goes fine for me. As I 'm walking back I see an ambulance pulling up and heading for that person in the corn field. My girlfriend comes up to me and tells me that she saw it happen. Apparently the person was spinning out of control and at about 1,500 ft. he cut away and pulled his reserve and it didnt open in time. Since she is a Whuffo I dont know if that info is accurate. Does anyone know anything else about it? My prayers are with him and his family.

[wildblue 7]

The report I heard was that he was much, much lower than that when he finally cut away. All I have is 3rd hand information and speculation, so I'll let someone else fill in the details.
Keep all the Skydive Chicago family in your thoughts and prayers, that's 4 family members they've lost recently.

[goblue 0]

He had line twists the entire way down and he chopped it around 200 feet. He didn't have a ton of jumps, around 70, it looks like he just plain lost altitude awareness.
Skydive Chicago has lost four members of its skydiving family this summer. If you think it can't happen to you, you're wrong. Be ready for a malfunction or someone else making a mistake on every jump.

[cderham 0]

Here's the newspaper report from the ottawa daily times. Also rumor has it The States attorney is looking into a filing a suit because 11 have died since 93. Anyone have more info on this?
http://www.ottawadailytimes.com/news/story.php?storyid=2932
Chris

[wildblue 7]

goblue - I assume the line twists got him spinning? From what I understand, he usually jumped a Stilletto. Just trying to clarify.
cderham - I'm guessing that's an unfounded rumor. What are they going to charge who with? Granted, most of the deaths there could have easily been avoided, but I'm not sure how you can find someone to blame for that. Can you file suit for SDC being too big for it's own good?
Then, I saw these two guys swoopin across the pond, and I was like 'weeeeeee!!!!'

[freeflir29 0]

"The States attorney is looking into a filing a suit"
Man...that would be a complete pile of horse shit! It's the almost same tactic the government is using against the firearms industry. Are industry manufacturers and DZO's going to have to compensate states for the medical costs of skydiving injuries next?
"The sky resembles a back lit canopy...with holes punched through it"- Incubus
Clay

[cderham 0]

Wildblue -- Here is the source I found on rec. just wondering here if anyone else has seen similar info in print somewhere. I find it crazy as well. But this is where I jump all the time and just wondering if there is any truth in it. I just can't understand what they would file over -- Someoneelse's F Up's? It just seems obserd. Sorry for the choppy nature of the following article I just cut and pasted it.
Chris
AP-IL--Skydiving Death
Third skydiving death reported in LaSalle County
in two weeks
(Ottawa-AP) -- LaSalle County authorities
are reporting a third
skydiving death in the past two weeks.
The sheriff's department says 38-year-old
Bruce Greig of
Jacksonville
died after his parachute malfunctioned
yesterday.
Two people died in a skydiving accident
near Ottawa on October
Sixth.
Authorities say their parachutes became
entangled.
(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press.
All Rights Reserved.)
The most recent death at Skydive Chicago brings the total number to 11
the
number of people killed in accidents at Skydive Chicago since the
facility
opened in 1993. Now, LaSalle County State?s Attorney Joe Hettel said he
is considering legal action against the group because of the number of
deaths.
AP-NY-10-15-01 1120EDT

[flyhi 24]

Quote

he usually jumped a Stilletto.

Seventy jumps and he usually jumped a Stilletto? Does anyone else see that as a problem?
flyhi

[wildblue 7]

Quote

Seventy jumps and he usually jumped a Stilletto? Does anyone else see that as a problem?

Umm.. yes.. but I didn't want this to degrade into DZ bashing, and I'm not positive that's what he was under.
Then, I saw these two guys swoopin across the pond, and I was like 'weeeeeee!!!!'

[skybytch 273]

Bummer. My condolences to his family and friends.
pull and flare,
lisa

[jumpervali 2]

It is truly sad when anyone is injured or killed skydiving. But the only way for any dropzone to stay at (0 injury/0 fatality) is to make 0 jumps. From the information I've viewed is seems all jumpers in Chicago were well past being students. Making their own choices in equipment and jumping conditions that were within their license limits. If we think about it all jumpers will have to admit that we are free agents and our choices and talents are what we must rely on to avoid injury/death in this sport. Location is just a medium for us to get altitude.
Be at peace bros., now you are free to truly fly.
jumpervali

[wildblue 7]

cderham - looks like you were right. From the Ottawa Daily Times:
---------------
State's attorney questioning skydive deaths
By DAN CHURNEY — Staff Writer
La Salle County’s chief law enforcement official is considering examining operations at Skydive Chicago after the skydiver death toll for this year reached four on Sunday.
“I’m investigating the possibility of legal remedies to the situation at Skydive Chicago,” La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Hettel said Monday, “but I’m doubtful of what I can do.”
Hettel said he decided to consider action against the skydiving facility after the death of Bruce Greig on Sunday, who fell to his death when his parachute apparently failed to properly deploy.
A man and a woman died Oct. 6 and a college student was killed July 9.
Eight other parachutists have died since Chicago Skydive opened in 1993 in Wallace Township. It later moved to Dayton Township.
Hettel said he is examining possible civil action on the premise that certain events affect the people of a county as a whole. However, he said he can’t think of any legal theory which applies to the situation.
Hettel said he was not approached by anyone asking him to investigate Skydive Chicago, but rather he decided on his own to look at the facility in view of the deaths that have occurred there.
A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration said elements of skydiving fall under FAA jurisdiction.
The FAA oversees the airworthiness of planes used to transport parachutists, the credentials of pilots manning the planes and the altitude flown by craft carrying skydivers.
The FAA also regulates the packing of back-up chutes, because this chute has to be stowed by a certified packer. The main chute can be packed by anyone.
The FAA is conducting limited investigations into the recent deaths at Skydive Chicago, but the spokesman said in most cases, the bulk of such investigations are handled by local authorities.
------------------
Does this guy have something against Roger and/or SDC? Or is it election year?

jumpervali - I think a DZ and/or DZO can be a large factor in what happens on a DZ, and can directly affect the number of injuries and deaths. If you want to discuss that one further, let's start a different thread on it.
Christ... now the coroner wants to argue about it. Either that, or the media is just bored and looking for a story.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/regional/g41444a.html

[skybytch 273]

Quote

Hettel said he is examining possible civil action on the premise that certain events affect the people of a county as a whole. However, he said he can’t think of any legal theory which applies to the situation.

He better look at dirt bikes, jet skis and all other outdoor activities too. It's a fair bet that more than 11 people have died on dirt bikes in La Salle county since 1993, and I'll bet lots more dirt bike riders were injured than skydivers were in the same time period. That would also "affect the people of the county as a whole", dontcha think?
And to think taxpayer dollars are paying this guy's salary.
Hey, maybe a skydiver stole his girlfriend... that might be a reason for a witch hunt...
pull and flare,
lisa

[Michele 1]

Quote

Hettel said he was not approached by anyone asking him to investigate Skydive Chicago, but rather he decided on his own to look at the facility in view of the deaths that have occurred there.

And just how many polititians care about, or even know about, the number of deaths at a DZ in any length of time? Like Lisa said, there is a reason he knows. And, like Lisa said, he needs to be checking into other sports, as well.
Otherwise, can we say "selective prosecution"?
Ciels-
Michele

"What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky".
~e e cummings~

[freeflir29 0]

"selective prosecution
Thats the standard in this country. States and federal organizations only prosecute when it will win public praise. It has nothing to do with right or wrong, legal, illegal.
"Law, the bastard child of justice"- Can't remember who said it but it's very true.
"The sky resembles a back lit canopy...with holes punched through it"- Incubus
Clay