From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Narrative: skydiver deployed the main parachute at approximately 4,000', a sabre 120, and it failed to deploy completely. The skydiver then initiated the deployment of the reserve parachute which became entangled and only partially deployed. The skydiver made an attempt to "cut-away" using the "cut-away" mechanism (handle) but the main parachute was not released. The cut-away handle was found in the skydiver's hand on impact with the ground. It is unclear if the skydiver couldn't release the main parachute or didn't release the main parachute. It was confirmed that the cut-away technique used by the skydiver was one where she would simultaneously release the main parachute and deploy the reserve. The skydiver is in intensive care at a medical facility and unable to be interviewed. The skydiver had logged 244 parachute jumps previous to this one and had experienced one successful main parachute malfunction.
As the FAA filed it
NARRATIVE: SKYDIVER DEPLOYED THE MAIN PARACHUTE AT APPROXIMATELY 4,000', A SABRE 120, AND IT FAILED TO DEPLOY COMPLETELY. THE SKYDIVER THEN INITIATED THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE RESERVE PARACHUTE WHICH BECAME ENTANGLED AND ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE SKYDIVER MADE AN ATTEMPT TO "CUT-AWAY" USING THE "CUT-AWAY" MECHANISM (HANDLE) BUT THE MAIN PARACHUTE WAS NOT RELEASED. THE CUT-AWAY HANDLE WAS FOUND IN THE SKYDIVER'S HAND ON IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE SKYDIVER COULDN'T RELEASE THE MAIN PARACHUTE OR DIDN'T RELEASE THE MAIN PARACHUTE. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CUT-AWAY TECHNIQUE USED BY THE SKYDIVER WAS ONE WHERE SHE WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASE THE MAIN PARACHUTE AND DEPLOY THE RESERVE. THE SKYDIVER IS IN INTENSIVE CARE AT A MEDICAL FACILITY AND UNABLE TO BE INTERVIEWED. THE SKYDIVER HAD LOGGED 244 PARACHUTE JUMPS PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE AND HAD EXPERIENCED ONE SUCCESSFUL MAIN PARACHUTE MALFUNCTION.
Other reports on N129PM · 5
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.