Australian Investigators Determined That His Reserve Chute Inadvertently Deployed

The Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) has wrapped up its investigation into a recent skydiving incident, revealing that one of the jumpers was left hanging 15,000 feet above the ground from the aircraft’s horizontal stabilizer due to an inadvertent deployment of his reserve parachute. He was able to cut himself free and pull his primary chute, allowing him to leave the scene with only minor injuries.

The jump was part of a large formation event on September 20, with 17 skydivers on board planning a 16-way exit. As the group reached 15,000 feet, the camera operator stepped out on the exterior platform, and the first jumper moved into the furthest forward position. In that moment, his reserve handle snagged on the aircraft’s deflected flap, triggering a parachute deployment that yanked him backward and knocked the camera operator into freefall in the process.

The reserve chute wrapped itself around the horizontal stabilizer, leaving the jumper suspended beneath it as 15 other divers and a confused pilot tried to regain control. Thirteen of them jumped as planned, while two stayed at the door, watching as the stuck jumper used a hook knife to cut the ropes to his parachute.

Once he got free and far enough from the aircraft, he released his main canopy, wrestled it free of remaining bits of the reserve, and landed safely. And, despite some tail damage and part of the canopy still wrapped around it, the aircraft returned to Tully Airport to land without further incident.

ATSB investigators determined the primary cause was the reserve handle snagging during exit. They also gave the operator a little slap on the wrist for aircraft being loaded outside its weight-and-balance envelope, though they confirmed that this did not contribute to the deployment or tail strike.

The report outlined several safety actions already underway. The operator, Far North Freefall Club, is updating weight-and-balance tools, reinforcing oxygen-use requirements above 14,000 feet to avoid hypoxia-related performance loss, mandating hook knives for all jumpers, and revising loadmaster procedures. A training program using video from the incident is also being developed for broader use in the community.

FMI: www.atsb.gov.au