Jumpin' Indiana Female Student Fatality

A 24 year old female skydiver died at Jumpin' Indiana on Saturday 10 March 2001. She had just graduated nursing school, and was down to make a few jumps to celebrate. The accident happend during her 3rd ten second delay jump. She had 10 jumps in total and 5 free falls.

The woman exited at 4,000 agl and was reported stable for 10 sec. She went for her main rip cord, but seemed to not be able to find it. She continued with this course of action until impact. There was, apparently, no attempt at her reserve ripcord until an instant before impact.

She was wearing student gear. In this case a PISA Naro rig with a SkyMaster Main, Tempo Reserve, FXC AAD. One handle system. The FXC seems to have fired at impact or an instant before. It was turned on and calabrated to fire at 1000 agl.

The FAA investigated. Their report states that all handles (rip cords) were visible, accessible, and easily extracted. They rule pilot (that is jumper) error.

Source: rec.skydiving

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