What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The skydiver exited the jump plane. Several people observed that the main parachute deployed, but did not open. The canopy appeared to wrap around itself and stream out above the spiraling skydiver. At approximately 500 to 800 AGL, the skydiver released ("cut away") the main canopy. The reserve canopy was not deployed and skydiver sustained fatal injuries on impact with the ground. Subsequent inspection of the main canopy indicates that the release appeared to have functioned normally. Witnesses observed the skydiver pack the main canopy himself, in what was described as a haphazard manner. Inspection of the reserve parachute revealed that the release handle pin was stowed, the pin was engaged to the closing loop, and the rigger seal was attached. Upon testing, the reserve canopy functioned normally. The reserve chute was packed by a rigger on 08/06/98. It appears that the skydiver made no attempt to open the reserve.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE SKYDIVER EXITED THE JUMP PLANE. SEVERAL PEOPLE OBSERVED THAT THE MAIN PARACHUTE DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT OPEN. THE CANOPY APPEARED TO WRAP AROUND ITSELF AND STREAM OUT ABOVE THE SPIRALING SKYDIVER. AT APPROXIMATELY 500 TO 800 AGL, THE SKYDIVER RELEASED ("CUT AWAY") THE MAIN CANOPY. THE RESERVE CANOPY WAS NOT DEPLOYED AND SKYDIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES ON IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE MAIN CANOPY INDICATES THAT THE RELEASE APPEARED TO HAVE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE SKYDIVER PACK THE MAIN CANOPY HIMSELF, IN WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A HAPHAZARD MANNER. INSPECTION OF THE RESERVE PARACHUTE REVEALED THAT THE RELEASE HANDLE PIN WAS STOWED, THE PIN WAS ENGAGED TO THE CLOSING LOOP, AND THE RIGGER SEAL WAS ATTACHED. UPON TESTING, THE RESERVE CANOPY FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE RESERVE CHUTE WAS PACKED BY A RIGGER ON 08/06/98. IT APPEARS THAT THE SKYDIVER MADE NO ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE RESERVE.