Skydiver’s Terrifying Near-Miss as Reserve Parachute Snags Plane Tail Mid-Air
A skydiver’s routine jump nearly turned into a tragedy when his reserve parachute became entangled with the tail of the aircraft he had just departed, leaving him precariously dangling 15,000 feet above Queensland. The harrowing incident, captured on camera, saw the experienced skydiver, identified as P1, engage in a desperate fight for survival to ensure a safe landing.
The dramatic events unfolded on September 20, and have since been detailed by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) following their investigation. The ATSB report sheds light on the series of alarming events that transpired during the Cessna 208 aircraft’s flight.
A Pre-Jump Mishap
The sequence of events began even before P1 exited the aircraft. During the preparation for the jump, P1 accidentally snagged his reserve parachute on a handle within the aircraft. This unfortunate incident caused the reserve parachute to deploy prematurely, before he had even left the plane.
Pilot’s Initial Alarm
Inside the cockpit, the pilot experienced a sudden judder and a deceleration of the aircraft, initially suspecting a stall. This unexpected jolt added to the already tense atmosphere.
A Risky Decision for Remaining Jumpers
With uncertainty about the extent of the damage to the aircraft, the excursion organiser, also known as the loadmaster, made the difficult decision to instruct the remaining skydivers to proceed with their jumps. While the loadmaster and pilot remained aboard the compromised aircraft, a total of 13 parachutists made their descent.
A Race Against Time: Cutting the Cords
P1, a skydiver with an impressive 2,013 jumps to his name, was faced with an immediate and life-threatening situation. He was forced to act swiftly and decisively. Using a hook knife, a vital piece of equipment he carried, he began cutting through the 11 cords of the entangled reserve parachute. Investigators were later told by P1 that this process, while successful, was “harder” than he had anticipated. He managed to free himself from the snagged reserve parachute within a remarkable 50 seconds.
A Second Complication: Main Parachute Entanglement
However, P1’s ordeal was far from over. Upon deploying his main parachute for the remainder of his descent, he encountered a further complication. The remaining lines from the now-cut reserve parachute became tangled with the lines of his primary parachute. This second entanglement sent P1 into a disorienting and “gut-wrenching spin.”
Unwinding to Safety
Through sheer skill and determination, P1 managed to unwind the tangled lines. As he descended further, reaching approximately 8,000 feet, the lines finally became fully separated, allowing him to regain control and prepare for a safe landing.
Injuries and Aircraft Damage
While P1 ultimately landed safely, he sustained minor injuries, including lacerations and bruising to his left lower leg, and a significant gash to his right lower leg. Meanwhile, the pilot of the Cessna 208 had managed to radio for assistance. He informed air traffic control of their precarious situation, even stating their preparedness to “bail out” using their own parachutes if the aircraft’s tail were to detach. The Cessna 208 eventually landed safely, but the impact from P1’s reserve parachute had caused “substantial damage” to its stabiliser.
The Lifesaving Tool: A Hook Knife
P1’s extensive experience, spanning 21 years in skydiving, and his formation skydiving qualification, proved invaluable. Crucially, his decision to carry a hook knife was a life-saving measure. Sarah Fien, the ATSB investigator for this incident, highlighted the critical importance of such tools in her statement, emphasizing that hook knives can be “lifesaving” in similar emergency situations.
Expert Commentary on Similar Incidents
World-renowned skydiver Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld commented on the rarity of such occurrences, stating that while he had heard of similar accidents, he had never personally witnessed one. He further elaborated on the critical nature of the reserve parachute, explaining, “You can’t cut away a reserve parachute. The reserve parachute is there to stay. Your only option at that point is to use your hook knife and cut the lines off until you can release from there.”
A Tragic Paragliding Collision
In a separate and tragic incident that occurred last month, a 59-year-old man lost his life after his paraglider collided with a hang glider mid-air. Philip Eric Haegler was soaring above Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when the mid-air collision occurred on November 20, resulting in his fatal fall from approximately 150 feet.
The hang glider pilot, identified as instructor Manoel da Silva, reported to authorities that he was flying with a student when he became momentarily distracted. He explained that he looked down to adjust his student’s leg strap, a standard manoeuvre, and in that brief period of about three seconds, he lost sight of Philip’s paraglider. Upon looking up, he was shocked to see Philip approaching from the opposite direction and at a lower altitude. Despite his attempts to evade the collision, Manoel da Silva stated that it was unavoidable.
