0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1961

1963

1965

1967

1969

1971

1973

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

2013

24 in 2013

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

Average Fatalities PerDecade

28.6

42.5

34.132.3

25.8

22.2

(2010s average only for 4 years)

Unintentional Low Turn-2

Intentional Low Turns-4

No/low Pull-5

Entanglement/Wrap-1

Canopy Collision-2

Equipment Problem-2

Cutaway No/Low Reserve-5

Freefall Collision-1

Tail Strike-1

Drowning-124 Total

38%9 Total

Canopy Collision Fatalities 1999-2013

Landing Problems 1999-2013

Intentional High-Performance Landings—4

Three of the four had little experience with High-performance landings. The fourth jumper

attempted to swoop through a congested area thatdid not allow for any errors.

Intentional HP Landings 1999-2013

Unintentional Low Turns 1999-2013

0

2

4

6

8

Unintentional—Trying to avoid an obstacle or face into the wind with a last-second turn.

Intentional—Trying to make a high-performance landing and misjudging the turn.

Intentional vs. Unintentional Low Turns

0

10

20

30

40

50

Total Fatalities vs. Canopy-Related Fatalities

Equipment Problems-2

• Hard main canopy opening led to one fatality.• A jumper unthreaded his chest strap under canopy and came out of his harness.

0123456789

10

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Equipment Problems 1999-2013

No/Low Pull—5

• Neither an instructor or his student deployed and both had AAD activations. Both struck the ground before the reserves could fully inflate. • A jumper exited a helicopter flying above a mountain range wearing a wingsuit. He was never found after an extensive search. • A jumper exited an airplane at 28,000 feet and never deployed his parachute. He was not equipped with an AAD. • A jumper slipped off the wing of a biplane aircraft at approximately 1,000 feet. He did not deploy a main or reserve parachute before he struck the ground.

0

1

2

3

4

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

No/Low Pull 1999-2013

Cutaway-No/Low Reserve Pull-5

All 5 fatalities were very experienced. Four were not equipped with aReserve Static Line or Main Assisted Reserve Device which may havechanged the outcome. A tandem cutaway was too low for the reserve to fully inflate. It could not be determined why the cutaway occurred atan apparently very low altitude.

0

1

2

3

4

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Cutaway-No/Low Reserve Pull 1999-2013

0

1

2

3

4

Medical Related 2000-2013

Drowning-1

A tandem pair attempted to beat a fast-moving squall line producing high windsand rain. After opening the main canopy, the pair were blown out over a lake, and landed in the water. The tandem instructor disconnected the student, climbedout of the harness, and they both started swimming towards shore. Only the student made it.

0

1

2

3

4

Drowning Fatalities 2000-2013

Student Skydivers-3

1. A n Unintentional Low Turn

2. A Tail Strike Exiting A Climbing Cessna Caravan

3. A No-Pull

Student Skydiver Fatalities 2000-2013

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013

Lessons Learned• Skydivers must improve canopy skills at every level of

experience, from student to expert.

• Regardless of wing-loading, a low turn can lead to a fatality.

• Spinning malfunctions can rapidly lose altitude and require a fast response.

• Skydivers need to learn more about their equipment, pack properly, maintain equipment properly and get gear checks before boarding and before exit.

• Use of AADs and RSLs can help to prevent fatalities.

• Similar mistakes are repeated almost every year. Skydivers need to learn where the mistakes are made and take steps to avoid repeating them.