This document analyzes skydiving fatality data from 1997-2016. It found that the most common causes of fatalities were landing problems, equipment problems, cutaways without reserve deployment, and incorrect emergency procedures. The document also provides details on specific incidents and finds that safer canopy piloting, freefall awareness, proper emergency procedures, and reserve static lines could help reduce fatalities. Overall, skydiving has become much safer over time as the fatality rate has declined from 5 per 1000 jumps in 1961 to less than 1 per 100,000 jumps in 2016.

2. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1997-2001 2002-2006 2007-2011 2012-2016
34.6
25.4
22
21.8

3. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Student A B C D
Experience Level
14
11
4
1

4. Landing Problem-2
Equipment Problem-4
Camera Entanglement-1
Intentional Low Turn-1
Unintentional Low Turn-1
Cutaway-No Reserve-2
Freefall Collision-2
Medical-2
Canopy Collision-1
Incorrect Emrgency Procedures-4
Airplane Strike-1

5. Under Parachute (5/21)
• Canopy collisions: 1, jumper struck the back of
another jumper while both were on final
• Landing problems: 2, two separate instances
of jumpers killed when they landed off the
airport (tree, billboard)
• Intentional high performance landing: 1
• Unintentional low turn: 1

6. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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.

7. Landing Problem-2
Equipment Problem-4
Camera Entanglement-1
Intentional Low Turn-1
Unintentional Low Turn-1
Cutaway-No Reserve-2
Freefall Collision-2
Medical-2
Canopy Collision-1
Incorrect Emrgency Procedures-4
Airplane Strike-1

8. Incorrect Eps (4/21)
• Tandem pair: incorrect response to a collapsed
drogue
• Student: deployed reserve before cutting
away
• Jumper had 2 parachutes out that went into a
downplane, did not cutaway

9. 0
1
2
3
4
5
1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

10. Landing Problem-2
Equipment Problem-4
Camera Entanglement-1
Intentional Low Turn-1
Unintentional Low Turn-1
Cutaway-No Reserve-2
Freefall Collision-2
Medical-2
Canopy Collision-1
Incorrect Emrgency Procedures-4
Airplane Strike-1

11. Equipment Problems (4/21)
• Incorrect 3 ring assembly: did not pass the
loop through the metal grommet first before
inserting the cutaway cable
• Student: unknown problem, possible suicide
• Jumper had a premature brake fire and
cutaway too low
• Jumper had a worn out main parachute that
collapsed when a front riser turn was initiated

12. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016

13. Landing Problem-2
Equipment Problem-4
Camera Entanglement-1
Intentional Low Turn-1
Unintentional Low Turn-1
Cutaway-No Reserve-2
Freefall Collision-2
Medical-2
Canopy Collision-1
Incorrect Emrgency Procedures-4
Airplane Strike-1
• 47 year old with known heart condition
• 61 year old new to the sport

14. 0
1
2
3
4
• Youngest 40 years old
• Oldest 73 years old
• Average 60 years old

15. Landing Problem-2
Equipment Problem-4
Camera Entanglement-1
Intentional Low Turn-1
Unintentional Low Turn-1
Cutaway-No Reserve-2
Freefall Collision-2
Medical-2
Canopy Collision-1
Incorrect Emrgency Procedures-4
Airplane Strike-1
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

16. Landing Problem-2
Equipment Problem-4
Camera Entanglement-1
Intentional Low Turn-1
Unintentional Low Turn-1
Cutaway-No Reserve-2
Freefall Collision-2
Medical-2
Canopy Collision-1
Incorrect Emrgency Procedures-4
Airplane Strike-1
• Two wingsuiters collided soon after exit-one died
• Two jumpers collided after break-off during a hoop dive-one died

17. Landing Problem-2
Equipment Problem-4
Camera Entanglement-1
Intentional Low Turn-1
Unintentional Low Turn-1
Cutaway-No Reserve-2
Freefall Collision-2
Medical-2
Canopy Collision-1
Incorrect Emrgency Procedures-4
Airplane Strike-1
• Steering line entangled with a helmet mounted GoPro camera
• Military re-enactor had his belly-mounted reserve activated in the door of the AC

18. Landing Problem-2
Equipment Problem-4
Camera Entanglement-1
Intentional Low Turn-1
Unintentional Low Turn-1
Cutaway-No Reserve-2
Freefall Collision-2
Medical-2
Canopy Collision-1
Incorrect Emrgency Procedures-4
Airplane Strike-1
21 Total 4 TotalX
• Smarter Canopy Piloting
• Awareness in Freefall
• Proper Emergency Procedures
• Using a Reserve Static Line

19. 1961: 5 fatalities per 1000 skydives
2016: less than 1 fatality per 100,000 skydives (Index rate of .006)
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
0
500000
1000000
1500000
2000000
2500000
3000000
3500000
4000000
4500000
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
2015
Fatalities
Total/Year
Rate
Expon. (Rate)