Bridlington, UK

[mikemc 0]

I purposely did not post this in Incidents because the info I have is second/third hand.

I just talked to a good friend of mine who was at Hibaldstow today. Apparently someone was killed at Bridlington 2/3 weeks ago. Apparently all was well until they initiated a hard toggle to avoid trees. I dont have anymore info than this.

[gus 1]

I heard about this over the weekend too. Didn't get any details other than the fact that there was a recent fatality at Brid.

Gus

OutpatientsOnline.com

[cpoxon 0]

I heard this too. I heard it was a student. I guess we won't hear anything concrete about it until the Inquiry's results are published in the ratified STC minutes in several months time (unless there is an inquest which is publicised).

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[cpoxon 0]

Unfortunately, true. From Safety & Training Committee (STC) Minutes 09/10/03

Quote

4. FATALITY – BRITISH SKYSPORTS

Unfortunately since the last meeting there had been two fatalities. The first was at British Skysports, Bridlington, on the 22nd August. The jumper was Grant Hager. A Board of Inquiry resume had been previously circulated with the agenda.

At approximately 16:10 hrs on Friday 22nd August 2003 at British Skysports, Bridlington, Grant Hager, an FAI ‘A’ Certificate parachutist with 29 jumps, boarded a Cessna 208B along with thirteen other parachutists. Grant was jumping a PD Navigator 200 canopy.

The aircraft climbed to approximately 13,000ft AGL. A ‘jump run’ was made over the PLA. Once the aircraft was at the exit point, the parachutists on board exited individually or in small groups. Grant was the eighth parachutist to exit the aircraft. He was carrying out a solo jump. All parachutists’ canopies were seen to deploy at the correct altitude (between 2-3000ft AGL), and all were observed to be flying correctly.

At approximately 200-300ft AGL, Grant’s canopy was observed to be flying towards some farm buildings, which were some considerable distance from the designated landing area for Student and Intermediate parachutists and close to the permitted landing are for Experienced parachutists. At approximately 50-100ft the Grant’s canopy was seen to make a radical left turn. The parachute completed approximately 270°, at which point he impacted with the ground, approximately 150 metres south of the clubhouse.

A BPA Board of Inquiry was instigated, comprising of the National Coach & Safety Officer and the Technical Officer. Their conclusions and recommendation are below:

CONCLUSIONS

The Conclusions of the Board are that Grant made an uneventful free fall descent, deployed his main parachute at the correct altitude, but failed to remain in a suitable area in order to land in the area designated for inexperienced and intermediate parachutists. It appeared that he might have intended to land closer to the club buildings, in an area where experienced parachutists are permitted to land.

At a very low altitude Grant initiated a radical turn in order to avoid a hazardous area, though a slight turn would have enabled him to avoid the hazards. The wind direction had changed by approximately 90° since the previous lift, though the wind speed was low and a satisfactory landing could have been achieved facing in any direction. He then struck the ground at high speed before fully completing the turn. The CCI had shouted to Grant to turn left, to avoid the hazards, but it is not known as to whether he had heard him.

RECOMMENDATION

The Recommendation of the Board is that the subsequent Panel of Inquiry, which follows a Board of Inquiry and is set up to investigate any peripheral aspects to the fatality, considers the following:

“Whether it may be appropriate to take further measures to discourage parachutists from occasionally seeking to land in areas not commensurate with their level of skills in canopy control.”

It was proposed by Nick Johnston and seconded by Mike Rust that the Board of Inquiry Report, including the Conclusions and Recommendations be accepted.

Carried Unanimously

The Chairman informed the meeting that the Panel of Inquiry has been instigated and is ‘Chaired’ by Ian Rosenvinge. The other members are John Page and Ray Armstrong.

BSBD

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[mr2mk1g 10]

Quote

...CCI had shouted to Grant to turn left, to avoid the hazards...

not suggesting this is even remotely the cause or even a contributing factor, but the CCI must feel pretty crappy about it.

[BBKid 0]

The way I read it, I thought it meant the CCI had shouted to him when at a higher altitude, so he wouldn't have to make a low turn.

Just my interpretation of text, out of context of course.

Nick
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"I've pierced my foot on a spike!!!"