My level 2 accident (August 04)

[rs2kmk5 0]

Hi All, I'm a newbie whose just got his A license.

I did my level one in the UK, and made my next jump in spain.

Foresight is a great thing, and I found out that jumping a 260 'chute is a whole world apart from PD340 - especially when you weigh 15st / 200 odd pounds.

I guess I should have been more thorough in my research, before I made the jump.

Anyhow, I've attached a couple of pics of my broken ankle from the level 2 jump for everyones amusement.

PS can anyone give me an idea of what my wingloading would have been on the 260?

Blue skies and be safe to all.

Out of 10,000 feet of fall, always remember that the last half inch hurts the most — Captain Charles W. Purcell, 1932

[justinb138 0]

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PS can anyone give me an idea of what my wingloading would have been on the 260?

About .88

[rs2kmk5 0]

Thanks for that..

.88 - that's pretty lame I guess.

The biggest thing I learnt from the accident was that on every jump the person responsible for you is YOU.

I'm still jumping a student 340, and am looking forward to downsizing to a more responsive canopy.

It's all good fun.

Out of 10,000 feet of fall, always remember that the last half inch hurts the most — Captain Charles W. Purcell, 1932

[Andy9o8 2]

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PS can anyone give me an idea of what my wingloading would have been on the 260?

About .88

Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I calculate it at .90 (rounding off to the nearest hundredth). I've nothing better to do right now, so here's my formula:

1 stone is 14 pounds (um, right?). So (if that's right), 15 stone = 210 lbs. Gear is probably 25 lbs, so 210 naked + 25 gear = 235 out the door. Then divide the weight out the door by the square footage of the canopy, so 235 / 260 = 0.90384615384615384615384615384615.

So your wingloading would be 0.90384615384615384615384615384615 to 1. Give or take.

Simple, eh?

[phoenixlpr 0]

I'm sorry about your leg. I have the same kindda patchwork on both sides too.

There is a saying: "If you dont have it on your head, you are going to have in your leg."

Trust me, your WL was right for your experience.

What have you done? What canopy have you used?

[Superman32 0]

That is the same WL and size canopy I started with.
What did you do? Can you give us details of the incident?

Glad you're healed and jumping again

Inveniam Viam aut Faciam
I'm back biatches!

[rs2kmk5 0]

Ha ha - like the phrase!

Im on a PD 340 at present, as for my leg, I have 6 titanium screws to the right of the ankle, 2 screws to the left, and some bendy metal strip to hold the whole lot together.

Feet and knees together - that suits me for now.

My instructors recommend that if I stay at my current weight, that I should consider getting something like a 230 rig, so I'll get another 20 odd jumps under my belt and see how I feel.

Then it's time to spend some money I guess

Out of 10,000 feet of fall, always remember that the last half inch hurts the most — Captain Charles W. Purcell, 1932

[rs2kmk5 0]

Thanks for the encouragement!

I had the bug after my level 1. I had to get my license!


Level 2: I had a normal opening, and was happy with canopy control etc etc, but I was aware that I was falling under canopy much faster than on my level 1 (just 6 days earlier).

I had radio communication with my instructor, and he asked me to do a right hand turn apx 90 degrees or so. This put me downwind and increased my ground speed. I then was told to do another turn, apx 180 to the right, and was concerned with just how close to the ground I was.

To avoid coming down in a farmers ditch I had to turn from my current heading, and I'm sure that I came down whilst still in this turn.

My right leg took the brunt of the impact, but didn't cause me any pain - I was convinced I just had muscle damage, or bruising and that if I iced it up I would be able to go again later that day.

Anyhows, I couldnt put any weight on my foot, and the foot / ankle / leg swelled instantly - of course the guys at the club knew instantly what I had done.

The adrenaline started to run, and I ended up driving myself to hospital (not the cleverst thing to do I know!).

I didn't jump again for a whole year - as I wanted to ensure 100% that I'd healed as much as I theoretically could. Then I repeated my level 2, and at 500 feet I became really quite nervous, I landed it all ok, and proceeded to swear, swear, and swear some more. I'd done it. I'd proven to myself I could do it.

That was that - now I cant get enough. Feet and knees together, feet and knees together - repeat...

Out of 10,000 feet of fall, always remember that the last half inch hurts the most — Captain Charles W. Purcell, 1932

[artistcalledian 0]

i've landed every one of my 16 jumps in the PLF position, some i've stayed standing for, some i've fallen over for, but all of them i've landed safe... i'll continue doing this for the forseable future because i don't care what it looks like, i want to land with no broken bones if i can help it

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drive it like you stole it and f*ck the police

[flyangel2 2]

Here's an easier way

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[Mike111 0]

Least youre leg is ok and you can now jump

[artistcalledian 0]

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Here's an easier way

smart pants

________________________________________
drive it like you stole it and f*ck the police

[Orange1 0]

I'm a little concerned that you have an A licence but don't know how to calculate wingloading... didn't one of your instructors go over this with you? Or (anyone) is this normal?

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[MarkM 0]

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To avoid coming down in a farmers ditch I had to turn from my current heading, and I'm sure that I came down whilst still in this turn.

Avoid the ditch higher up

Seriously though, coming down in a turn is a killer. You get vertical speed from it and when you hit straight down into the ground all the energy goes right into you without bleeding off anywhere else. The worst accidents I've seen are when people hit the ground hard and don't bounce(vertical hits).

[rs2kmk5 0]

'Avoid the ditch higher up'.

That's the wisest response yet. That's just spot on. I guess the reason for me not doing this is that I was on an unfamiliar canopy on only my second jump, and that my combined downward and horizontal speeds freaked me out, much more than on my level one jump.

Incidentally, the wingloading on my level one jump was a mere 0.69, compared with the 0.9 on this jump.

Thanks for your advice - sometimes it takes a second opinion to point out the blindingly obvious.

Out of 10,000 feet of fall, always remember that the last half inch hurts the most — Captain Charles W. Purcell, 1932

[skydiverbry 0]

ouch!!!!!!

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Growing old is mandatory.Growing up is optional!!

D.S.#13(Dudeist Skdiver)

[algboy 0]

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I'm a little concerned that you have an A licence but don't know how to calculate wingloading... didn't one of your instructors go over this with you? Or (anyone) is this normal?

Just my $.02 from an out-of-currency A-licensee with only 36 jumps . . . but wouldn't the act of flaring be of more value than calculating wing loading?

I am a 205-lb.er and have always jumped 260s and 230s--generally at 1500 ft msl Eloy. With even a slight headwind--and a good strong flare--most of my landings are like stepping off a curb.[Yes--I've biffed a few, too].

Am I off base here? I don't see a .88 W/L as the problem.

“Keep your elbow up!"

[phoenixlpr 0]

It's much easier for a student to learn WL than a proper flare :P.

[algboy 0]

You may have a point!!

“Keep your elbow up!"

[phoenixlpr 0]

When I was a student I did not know the concept of wing loading. I was jumping any gear given by my instructor. It was so simple :).

[Orange1 0]

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but wouldn't the act of flaring be of more value than calculating wing loading?

You misunderstand my point. (and anyway, flaring is hardly independent of how you've loaded the canopy. )

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When I was a student I did not know the concept of wing loading. I was jumping any gear given by my instructor. It was so simple :).

You appear to understand

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All I was saying ... by A licence you are generally somewhere along the process of buying your own gear and WL is crucial to understanding what to buy. I hope most newbies ask advice on what to buy and that most DZOs/CIs vet what they jump, but judging from some of the posts i've seen on here.... i'm not so sure. And anyway you take ultimately responsibility for what you buy, and how can you do that if you don't know how to calculate your WL??

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[firstime 0]

I agree, it's none other than basic math

[azureriders 0]

and its also a requirement to get your A license

[dorbie 0]

Sorry to see you broke yourself, definitely not amusing.

Edit: looks like you learned more than just wing loading, sounds like a classic low turn before you had the knowledge to flat turn (no PLF?).

Jumping with a correctly sized canopy is not a guarantee of safety. I am a similar weight and learned just fine on Sabres and Navigators at about the same wing loading as your Spanish misadventure. On my 2nd AFF, I did a x-wind 'landing' rather than turn low (after a long spot), I could have easily wound up like you.

P.S. X-rays are much cooler than photos of staples.

[Andy_Copland 0]

I dont agree, and its not because i jump at the same DZ.

After your A your required to carry a hook knife, but not during your AFF, answer? Because its too much to take it. Wingloading is not important in my opinion until you have your A and are getting your own rig, then you can have a nice long talk with the rigger.

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.