1. Parachute Association
2016
Fatality Summary
United States
Parachute Association

2. Fatalities
21 in 2016
Total fatalities per year since 1961, the first year that fatality totals were tracked. The late 1970’s had the highest number of fatal accidents. Many changes in equipment were taking place in that period. Overall, since the late 90’s, the fatality rate has been trending down even as total number of jumps has increased.

3. Five-Year Averages
Looking at five-year averages shows that the last three periods have had a substantially lower average than the pervious five-year segment.

4. Ten-Year Averages
42.5
34.1
32.3
28.6
25.8
22.1
Looking at averages per decade, the last 10 years have had a lower average than all four earlier decades. Overall jump numbers have increased, yet the average number of fatalities has dropped.
(2010s average only for 7 years)

5. Experience Level-2016 14 4
14 of the fatalities involved D-licensed skydiver. It is common each year for D-licensed skydivers to make up the majority of fatal accidents. Four students died in One tandem student and three AFF students. 1 1 1

6. Canopy Collisions-1
One jumper turned to final approach and the turn placed him directly behind another jumper who was already on final approach. His canopy struck the back of the jumper on final approach and partially collapsed, dropping him from approximately feet for a hard landing. The base leg to final approach corner of the landing pattern is typically the spot where pattern altitude collisions occur. Jumpers need to look carefully for traffic rather than just focus on the landing area.

7. Canopy Collisions 1999-2016 GM Pledge To Separate Traffic
Canopy collisions have typically resulted in several fatalities per year in the last decade. In 2007 USPA changed the group member pledge to require drop zones to separate high-performance landings from standard landings. It still took several more years before this requirement was followed by the drop zones, and as a result the collision fatalities began to decline.

8. Landing Problems
Two jumpers died while attempting to land their main parachutes. One jumper attempted to stretch his glide to land in the main landing area instead of choosing an alternate field. He descended into a tree at the edge of the landing area and his canopy collapsed as he dropped approximately 40 feet. Another jumper attempted to land in a clear area while landing off of the drop zone. He made a 360 degree turn at approximately feet and struck a billboard. Jumpers need to select a clear open area and fly a landing pattern that allows for landing in the clear area with the wing level.

9. Landing Problems
Over the last 17 years, landing problems have been a prominent part of the total fatalities. However, there has been one year without any fatal accidents in this category. Jumpers who did not safely land their parachute fall into this category. It usually involves an off-field landing and striking an obstacle.

10. Intentional High-Performance Landings-1
One jumper was killed in 2016 while attempting a high-performance landing. He initiated a 270 degree turn at approximately 500 feet and struck the ground in a diving turn without attempting to pull out of the dive with rear risers or toggles. Two years prior he was severely injured from another low turn. He may have lacked the depth perception necessary to perform high-performance landings and not realized how rapidly the ground was approaching during his turn.

11. Intentional HP Landings 1999-2016
High-performance landing fatalities over the past 17 years. The general trend had been dropping in this category. However, the past five years have shown slight increases. Due to the energy and speeds generated by highly wing-loaded canopies, any mistake close to the ground can prove fatal. There is no room for error with this type of landing and 2016 have shown a reduction in this category.

12. Unintentional Low Turns Under Canopy-1
One jumper died as a result of a low turn while attempting to land in a clear airspace just off the drop zone. For unknown reasons, at approximately 600 feet he turned away from the main landing area and flew towards an adjacent field. He then made a hard turn and struck the ground in a diving turn. Witnesses observed him to be controlling the canopy for the descent. One brake line was found severed in two, but it is believed that this occurred on landing or possibly by first responders.

13. Unintentional Low Turn Landings
Jumpers avoiding obstacles, other canopies at a low altitude, or attempting to face into the wind just before landing have induced hard turns at the last second, not realizing how much speed would be generated by the low turn. Jumpers in this category usually have less than 300 jumps and are jumping at wing loadings of 1.3:1 to 1.6:1 but did not consider their wing loading as high. In reality, the wing loading is considered advanced, and a low turn at this wing loading can generate enough energy to cause serious injuries or a fatality. This type of fatal accident is trending down as jumpers learn to make better decisions under canopy. Improved canopy training and more emphasis on learning more about canopy flight has helped jumpers to become better and smarter under canopy and make better decisions when facing challenging landing situations.

14. Intentional vs. Unintentional
Low Turn Landings
The low-turn fatality is still prominent, but there does seem to be a reduction in the number of accidental low turns made by jumpers while trying to avoid an obstacle or face into the wind at the last second. USPA has been trying to raise awareness of the issues related to low turns so jumpers can learn the pitfalls and avoid them. Jumpers who are trying to swoop should seek training with an experienced canopy coach. But intentional high-performance turn related fatalities will continue to happen as long as jumpers continue to attempt them. Mistakes at such high speeds will often be fatal. There is simply no room for error, and any turn under canopy increases the risks of a collision with another canopy, or with the ground at a high rate of speed.
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.

15. 2016 Canopy-Related Fatalities-5
Improved canopy control and better decisions under canopy could have eliminated five of the 2016 fatalities and reduced the fatality total by 24%. In previous years, canopy related fatalities have been as much as 50% of the total number.
24%

16. 2016 Incorrect Emergency Procedures
Four jumpers died in 2016 due to incorrect emergency procedures in three separate accidents. A tandem pair was killed when a tandem instructor responded incorrectly to a collapsed drogue. He pulled his handles out of order and the reserve entangled with the drogue and did not clear the freebag. A student with 11 jumps experienced a malfunctioned main after an unstable deployment. He then deployed his reserve but did not release the main canopy first. The reserve pilot chute entangled with the main canopy and the reserve never deployed. Another jumper experienced a dual deployment for unknown reasons. The main and reserve went into a downplane but she never released the main canopy. She struck the ground hard under the two spinning canopies.

17. Incorrect Emergency Procedures
Jumpers must repeatedly practice emergency procedures to help ensure that they are performed correctly during an actual malfunction. Regardless of experience level, all jumpers will benefit from frequent practice of emergency procedures.

18. Equipment Problems-4
Four jumpers died in 2016 after encountering equipment problems.
1. A jumper initiated a front riser turn and his main riser disconnected from the harness. It was determined that he had switched main canopies and did not thread the type 2a locking loop through the grommet on the cutaway cable housing. The cutaway cable slipped out of the locking loop once he pulled on the riser and tool the pressure off of the loop.
2. An AFF student was found on the ground out of her harness, several miles from where the main canopy/container landed. The chest straps and leg straps were fastened and adjusted. The rig used a belly band which was found unthreaded. Investigators reported that the harness fit her correctly and all straps were fastened during her skydive. She may have unthreaded the belly band and climbed out for a suicide, but nothing definite could be determined.
3. A jumper had a main canopy open extremely hard, knocking one brake loose and incapacitating the jumper. He released the main canopy very low and descended into trees under his reserve. The canopy collapsed and he landed hard. He did not have enough altitude to fly to a clear area. 4. A jumper initiated a front riser turn of a very worn out cross-braced canopy. It collapsed and the jumper spun into the ground for a hard landing.

19. Equipment Problems
As the information shows, there are fatalities almost every year attributed to problems with equipment. Jumpers need to learn to pack properly and maintain their gear, as well as make sure it is used correctly on every skydive.

20. Medical Related-2 47 year old with known heart condition
Two jumpers died from heart attacks in One jumper had been diagnosed with a heart condition but elected to continue jumping. He had a heart attack in freefall and his AAD deployed his reserve However, he also suffered a broken neck after landing under his reserve without flaring the canopy. He may have already been dead at that point. At 61 year old jumper suffered a heart attack soon after his main canopy deployed. He was observed limp in the harness as the canopy descended in a turn while he was slumped over to one side.
47 year old with known heart condition
61 year old new to the sport

21. Medical Related 2000-2016 Youngest 40 years old Oldest 73 years old
The USPA membership continues to increase in age of the average member. Jumpers who are 40 and older should receive regular check-ups by a medical professional. Those who have a history of medical problems should receive more extensive testing.
Youngest 40 years old
Oldest 73 years old
Average 60 years old

22. Cutaway, No/Low Reserve Pull-2
Two jumpers died after releasing a main parachute and never deploying the reserve. One jumper with more than 1,000 jumps was above 1,000 feet when he pulled his cutaway handle. He did not have an RSL or MARD device, and he never pulled his reserve handle. Another jumper deployed his main at 1,700 feet and one brake released. The canopy spun for five seconds and he pulled his cutaway handle but he was only 200 feet above the ground. He did not have an RSL or MARD and he did not pull the reserve ripcord. Had he responded sooner and used an RSL, the reserve may have deployed before he struck the ground.
Use of an RSL or MARD device can help ensure the reserve is activated after
cutting away from the main canopy.
RSL=Reserve Static Line
MARD=Main Assisted Reserve Device

23. Cutaway, No/Low Reserve Pull 2000-2016
There have been consistent fatalities over the years caused by jumpers who fail to deploy a reserve in time following a cutaway. Some have stayed with a malfunction too long, and cutaway at low altitudes below 1,000 feet, others have cutaway higher, but still failed to locate the reserve ripcord and pull the handle. Use of a reserve static line or main-assisted reserve device would help ensure a reserve is activated as soon as the main canopy is released.

24. Student Fatalities
The student fatality figures for each year since and 2011 were both significantly higher than the other years.
Tandem-1 (incorrect EPs by tandem instructor)
AFF-3 (medical problem, incorrect EPs by student, out of the harness after dep.)

25. Freefall Collisions-2
Two wingsuiters collided 20 seconds after exit. One jumper suffered head and neck injuries and did not have an AAD. He was found in a wooded area the next day and likely was killed by the freefall impact. A jumper was part of a hoop dive and he struck one of the other jumpers after break-off while tracking. He then deployed his main canopy. But he was found on the ground with severe injuries and many line twists in the main, having landed under a spinning line twist. He died several days later from his injuries.
Two wingsuiters collided soon after exit-one died
Two jumpers collided after break-of during a hoop dive-one died

26. Freefall Collisions
Freefall collision fatalities are sporadic, however they can occur on any skydive and it is important that jumpers remain clear of each other during the break-off and dock safely when approaching formations.

27. Other-2 Steering line entangled with a helmet mounted GoPro camera
A jumper died when he made his turn to final approach and his steering line entangled with his helmet mounted GoPro camera. The canopy remained in a turn until he struck the ground a few seconds later. A jumpmaster for a military re-enactor group was dispatching static line students from a Cessna Caravan at approximately 2,000 feet. His belly-mounted reserve was deployed while he was in the door, most likely from an exiting jumper snagging his reserve handle. He was pulled into the trailing edge of the door when his reserve inflated, killing him instantly.
Steering line entangled with a helmet mounted GoPro camera
Military re-enactor had his belly-mounted reserve activated in the door of the AC

28. 2016 Fatalities
21 Total
This is a look at all of the categories in one pie chart.

29. Four easy ways to reduce fatalities by 80%X
21 Total
4 Total
Skydivers continue to have problems with the same issues every year. Low turns, both intentional and unintentional, and other canopy control issues continue to cause a large percentage of the fatalities each year. Better and more canopy training, staying with larger canopies for longer periods, and ensuring airspace is clear before making a turn can help to reduce the canopy related fatalities. Use of AADs and RSLs can serve as valuable back-up devices in the event emergency procedures are not conducted in a timely manner. A more thorough understanding of parachute equipment, packing and maintenance can also help to eliminate equipment-related fatalities.
Smarter Canopy Piloting
Awareness in Freefall
Proper Emergency Procedures
Using a Reserve Static Line

30. Index Rate
We now have a fatality rate index that is less than 1 fatality per
100,000 skydives (Index rate of .006)
The index rate is a way to look at trends across the years. As the jump numbers increase, fatalities are decreasing. The rate in 1961 was nearly 5 fatalities for every 1,000 jumps. In 2016, the rate is .006 fatalities every 1,000 jumps, or, one fatality for every 165,172 jumps. USPA changed to a different survey method in 2016, which showed the total number of jumps per year to be 4,100,000 for all USPA members, or approximately 3,468,000 for USPA members in the United States. The estimates for the years were 3,200,000 per year based on a different reporting system.