Problem night skydive

[liloz 0]

I recently participated in night jump operations and it did not go all that well for me. I am looking for some experience input on my story to see if I can figure out what happened and if I can fix the issue and attempt a night jump in the future. I will be as detailed as possible but short.
Our DZ was lighted by two cars pointing at each at the center of standard landing area. We had a briefing prior as required. On the way to altitude my JM and another jumper pointed out landmarks around the DZ. Prior to exiting the aircraft my JM pointed to the two cars and confirmed I could ID them. I confirmed that I did see them.
When I exited I was told by people on the ground could see my light, but once I deployed my light was never seen again. Once under canopy I believed I was pointed toward the drop zone so I continued that direction. As I am looking down I could make out several lights I thought I had the DZ ID'ed found out I did not at about 2200'. It was at this point I realized that I was not at the DZ and I was uncertain exactly were I was. I remember training and I was looking for lighter shaded ground for an open field. As I flew I made out a dark area that I believed to be trees. I also ID'ed an area that was lighter that I believed was the field I was looking for.
The skydive ended as I went through the top of several trees hitting my shins. As I cleared the trees I looked down and now realized I was going to either land on an island ladened with downed trees and lots of rocks or in the river. I am accomplished swimmer and chose the river which thankfully was the right choice. My pride was the thing hurt the worse which I am fine with.
So now that is the basic of the story. If you want or need more information please ask I will be happy to answer any questions meant to help me figure this out. I have a few questions I hope can get answered with the help and experience of fellow skydivers.
I thought I was landing in an open field looking at an area that was lighter in color. I am looking at this from a medical point of view. Has anyone else had a similar issue? I had Lasik surgery 12 years ago. I am not sure if that did anything to change my night vision.
I am not silly enough to think I may have just screwed up. It is possible that I did just screw the pooch but I need to know. I have friends that are color blind and they see one color but it is actually another color. I am wondering if when I saw the light shaded area I was actually looking at dark shaded area.
I have asked a pilot if we can go up in the plane again one night. I thought if we can get up to altitude I could look out and tell her what I see. If I see one thing and she points out something different then I would know I have an issue with my eyes and that an be fixed. If I can pick out trees fields etc. correctly then I know I screwed the pooch on my night jump and I need more training before I attempt again.
Please give me any positive and negative feedback. Please ask me any questions that you may have. I just want to make sure if and when I do another night jump it ends back at the DZ. Thank you in advance for all your help and comments.

[maggyrider 10]

I never did a night jump myself, so the following is just based on my common sense:

If you want to check out your eyes, go see an eye specialist and let him check out your vision. It's easier, it's probably cheaper and you will get a more objective, better result (and if you discovered a problem yourself by flying up with the plane again, you would have to give the eye specialist a visit anyway). If he discovers a problem, fix it. If not, your problem had nothing to do with your vision, but with your experience or the way the jump was briefed (you know, with 100 jumps, things like this can happen).

Nice words are not always true - and true words are not always nice.

[Pobrause 6]

Thanks for sharing your story and glad you made it out alive =)

some trees are brighter than others and some fields are darker than others. I'd highly doubt sth was wrong with your perception of either. Doesn't sound like you are night blind, too. And you would already know that, wouldn't you?

Just a couple of questions:
How many jumps in total?
How many at that particular DZ?
What kind of (clear) goggles were you using?
Exit altitude?
Deployment altitude?
Wheather conditions during the night, any moon?
Were your lights set up in any way where they could blend you during the jump?
What were you doing during freefall?
How much time went from you last seeing the DZ and your exit?
Any reasons why you didn't check the landmarks that were shown to you inside the plane once in freefall/under canopy?
Did you look out and tried to find the DZ by yourself prior (like 5 seconds) to exit?

I'm glad your decision to land in the (smallish?) river worked out for you but I don't think I'd advise anybody to do so during the night and actually in general. Drowning due to unforseen strong currents and getting drifted far away sound like a horrible scenario compared to a broken leg because of some rocks... You had your cell phone with you, didn't you?

-------------------------------------------------------

To absent friends

[riggerrob 558]

We have heard this story a dozen times before, including from the RSM of the Canadian Airborne Regiment!
Hah!
Hah!
The cure is to keep an eye on multiple lighter landmarks around the DZ and use multiple landmarks to navigate back to the DZ.

[pchapman 261]

Yikes!

Short version: What Rob said about multiple landmarks.

The penalty for missing the DZ can be high on night jumps.

You should be able to get an idea if you have general night vision issues just by walking around the DZ in the dark with friends, seeing if you see what they see. Or by driving at night. Some people really dislike night driving away from lights... because they have vision issues such as with acuity or glare. (Of course check with a medical professional for any subtler issues.)

Landing references:

If you have few references, you want to be pretty sure of your orientation. Stay on aircraft heading in freefall rather than playing around, if just doing a lower night jump? No identifiable towns on the horizon? DZ's can be out in the boonies with few clear references at night.

Keep track of where the jump run is in relation to the DZ. Possibly trickier at night where low winds might have jumpers dropping both before and past directly overhead the LZ.

But even then there's some reference: Although you might not know the direction of the DZ, if the drops are roughly overhead, then the DZ will be in moderately angled cone below you.

If you are doing night jumps, it is probably planned with a moon out, a nearly full moon, and if it isn't yet the middle of the night, the moon won't be fully overhead (ie, opposite to the sun). So the moon should often be a heading reference.

Check the spot as you climb out; don't rely just on a guy pointing out the DZ as you turned towards jump run.

At some DZ's, if someone is newer to night jumping or of less experience, they do a hop and pop the first time, or do a solo freefall instead of complicating things with RW, helping to reduce orientation issues.

You did what you could but like with a lot of things in skydiving, extra planning before the jump could reduce the risk. Use every possible source of heading and location info.


It isn't quite the same but it reminds me of jumps through clouds (on a non GPS aircraft), where someone spots a ground landmark for a moment in a gap and people soon jump. Lessons from night jumps and cloud jumps may apply to each other.

For such cloud jumps, do you know where the aircraft really is, and what heading? Did you maintain knowledge of your own heading using the aircraft / sun / cloud features? Was the correct ground feature spotted? One difference with clouds is that they don't normally go down to the ground when jumping, unlike darkness!

[dthames 0]

I waited a long time before doing the night jumps that are needed for the D license. I saw people get hurt and I heard several stories that demonstrated how easy it is to end up landing somewhere you don't want to land and under conditions where you can't see well.

So I cheated. I have a FlySight GPS unit that I set up with the FlyBlind feature to guide me to the DZ if I could not visually identify it. I put a head light on that would allow me to see the ground in case I was away from the lighted area.

I was able to see the DZ for both jumps without issue. On the second jump someone was on a long/early base leg when I was on my downwind. It looked like we would come close to each other. As I move over and behind him, I put myself out of position to land in the lighted area. With the moon behind clouds, the headlight came to the rescue. It kept me out of a tree line that was close to where I landed.

Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.

Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

[sammielu 3]

Bwing able to identify your landing area (and avoid obstacles) is a very important aspect of night jumps. Ideally, this is covered in detail in the briefing prior to jumping. I recommend talking to the instructor who briefed you on night jumps, asking for honest feedback, and talking through things you can do to prevent a repeat scenario.

Maybe your vision does suck, but it's equally likely that you were late, rushed, distracted, unprepared, eyes not fully light adjusted, not adequately familiar with the nightscape, fatigued, or dehydrated during the briefing and jumps. Firsthand debrief will fill in the blanks better than my speculation.

Aside from the saftey first/instructor blah blah stuff: why would you want to do another night jump?!! I did my two for my D, had a blast and was scared at the same time, and never need to do it again (not safe enough for me, I prefer using my vision to see obstacles and other canopy traffic).

[BIGUN 1,048]

Not enough car lights pointing at each other.
Only two can get muddied with all the other lights that may be in the area.
Assume 2 car lights pointing to each other thirty yards apart and a colored light at the end of the landing row.

| | | | | |
-----------------> <- colored light
| | | | | |


(~100 night jumps)

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[hillson 0]

Assuming that this was at the DZ listed in the OP's profile...facilities information lists that the runway has (keyed) edge lights.

I wonder if they were lit...makes life easier for sure.

[BIGUN 1,048]

Maybe... just my opinion, but the less lights on the DZ other than the dedicated landing area is more conducive to seeing only the landing area. Having said that, I live in Oklahoma, so making everything dark in the country except the landing area is pretty easy.

Perhaps something to test with experienced jumpers before the next night jump.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[hillson 0]

yeah...dunno. I probably have 25ish night jumps in FL...all at "larger" airports that have been lit at night. At least there is no problem figuring out where you are. lol But, never jumped at night were there aren't tons of competing light sources.

[liloz 0]

How many jumps in total? 103

How many at that particular DZ? 92

What kind of (clear) goggles were you using? Bonehead Rev Opened

Exit altitude? 7000’

Deployment altitude? 3200’

Weather conditions during the night, any moon? Mostly clear Almost a full moon (Ideal conditions)

Were your lights set up in any way where they could blend you during the jump? Blind me? No

What were you doing during freefall? I turned 90 found the lake we jump near, turned 90 again, which had me pointing toward DZ

How much time went from you last seeing the DZ and your exit? I looked out the aircraft with my JM prior to exit

Any reasons why you didn't check the landmarks that were shown to you inside the plane once in freefall/under canopy? I believed I was looking at landmarks. I also made a jump prior to dark and an experienced jumper pointed out several landmarks for me.

Did you look out and tried to find the DZ by yourself prior (like 5 seconds) to exit? I looked at many landmarks on the way up. I believed I had the DZ picked out, but possible I did not.

You had your cell phone with you, didn't you? I did have my cell phone with me, but after landing in the water it was no longer working. I also carried a strobe light and this is how the plane ID’ed my location. I turned the strobe light on as it flew overhead.

For such cloud jumps, do you know where the aircraft really is, and what heading? I did understand our direction on jump run.

Did you maintain knowledge of your own heading using the aircraft / sun / cloud features? I thought as I turned 90 twice I was pointed in the direction of the DZ. I was told my light was seen during free fall but never seen once I was under canopy. I wish I had more lights on my person. The thought is I had an off heading opening which pointed me 180 away from the DZ. I felt I was still heading toward the DZ. Inexperience for sure!

Was the correct ground feature spotted? I thought I could make out the DZ. We had the two cars pointed at our peas (landing area) and one light on the clubhouse.

Our briefing was solid. We had 18 jumpers (some twice) and I was the only person that did not make it back to the DZ. We also had a debrief and many issues were addressed to make sure it is easier to ID the DZ. I was at 2200’ under canopy and I believed I knew were I was. At about 2000’ I believed I should be next to one of my landmarks. I realized I was not in the right place and I prepared for an off site landing. I started looking for my outs. My biggest worry was power lines because I did not know exactly were I was.

I posted this wondering if anyone else had issues with the different shades. The answers provided have been fantastic and for sure going to help me. I did the night jumps as required for my “D” license. I am not sure that I will be doing them again in the future other than to complete my “D” license. We had two other jumpers that have around the same number of jumps as I do. So I want to make sure everyone knows this was not an issue with my DZ or the briefing we received or the weather clouds winds etc… This problem was with me and I want to figure out what happened. I want to know if I have problem with my eyes after my surgery. Did I just not understand what was explained in the briefing? The issue that happened is on me and not anyone else and I understand that. I want to correct the issue as that is the most important thing.

Thanks to everyone that have written in and expressed their thoughts. If you have any other questions let me know. I want to make sure that I learn from this experience so it never happens again.

[NWFlyer 2]

dthames

I waited a long time before doing the night jumps that are needed for the D license. I saw people get hurt and I heard several stories that demonstrated how easy it is to end up landing somewhere you don't want to land and under conditions where you can't see well.

Me too. I already knew my night vision wasn't very good, so I wanted to make sure I had as many things working in my favor as I could (more experience, VERY familiar DZ, incredibly well-lit landing area). As it was I had no trouble, but the DZ where I did mine brought in stadium lights, which are quite the beacon in an otherwise-dark area. I still only did the two for my D (having already completed the other requirements) and when I got down I said "Okay. Done. Never again. Can I have my fucking D license now?"

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Croc 0]

Night jumps are a stunt, like a Mr. Bill or a CRW stack landing. The requirement of two night jumps for a D license, as I have been saying for ten years, is bullshit. Glad you are OK. During one of mine an experienced jumper opened immediately underneath me without tracking at all--damn near got wrapped in his main.

Weird things happen at night, including simply being tired and having poor judgment because you are awake when you would normally be asleep. It is dangerous to drive under those circumstances. Why would anyone think it is a good idea to jump at night? Oh, I forgot; because that's the way it's always been. Thanks USPA.

"Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so."

Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy

[NeoX 0]

pchapman

... if it isn't yet the middle of the night, the moon won't be fully overhead (ie, opposite to the sun).

That's factually incorrect.

He's doing his Superman thing.

[danornan 64]

I agree with you 100%.

I have made several and they were fun, memorable and uneventful, but in my opinion, way too dangerous to be a requirement. Everything that can go wrong is magnified.

Glad you lived, but you were lucky and not good. Plan better next time and get lots of good local advise. Use the internet as a guide, but verify with your local instructors.

Croc

Night jumps are a stunt, like a Mr. Bill or a CRW stack landing. The requirement of two night jumps for a D license, as I have been saying for ten years, is bullshit.

Glad you are OK. During one of mine an experienced jumper opened immediately underneath me without tracking at all--damn near got wrapped in his main.

Weird things happen at night, including simply being tired and having poor judgment because you are awake when you would normally be asleep. It is dangerous to drive under those circumstances. Why would anyone think it is a good idea to jump at night? Oh, I forgot; because that's the way it's always been. Thanks USPA.

Dano

[dzswoop717 5]

I don't understand why night jumps are required for a D license. I can see the need for a Pro rating holder to be night qualified because of the possibility of doing night demos. The average jumper shouldn't have to take this risk if they never plan to jump at night for fun.
I have nothing against doing night jumps, I have had a lot of fun making dozens myself. I just don't understand the logic that it is necessary to become an Expert Skydiver.

[pchapman 261]

NeoX

***... if it isn't yet the middle of the night, the moon won't be fully overhead (ie, opposite to the sun).

That's factually incorrect.

I'm a little rusty on my orbital mechanics.
But what's wrong with it?

In the middle of the night (in a general sense) with a perfectly full moon, the moon will be at its highest, directly opposite the sun.

The moon is "full" when we on earth are aligned between it and the sun, so can see the full illuminated side. (Not absolutely perfectly aligned due to small differences in the plane of the moon's orbit, as then it's a rare lunar eclipse.)

With the sun and moon opposite, when the sun is going down, the full moon is opposite and thus rising near sunset. The exact timing varies as depending on our latitude and season, when our sunrise and sunset aren't right around 6pm and 6am. Also depending on latitude and season, just like the sun, the moon may not get "directly overhead" in the sense of being 90 degrees from the horizon.

In my brief comment, it may have been unclear that I wasn't suggesting the moon does get "directly" overhead every night in the middle of the night. That's a valid critique of my brief statement. I should have clarified that "fully overhead" was meant to be "as high as the moon goes", which may well not be anywhere near directly overhead. The full moon is highest during the middle of the night, when the moon, you, and the sun are all aligned as much as possible.

The point was that if the moon has risen recently, then it must be closer to the horizon and can act as an easy heading reference on a night jump. And if it is one's summer (where we tend to skydive), then with the earth tilted towards the sun for lots of sunshine, then the earth is tilted away from the moon and so summer moons never get that high in the sky in the mid latitudes. So then it will be a good heading reference for any night jump at any time of summer night when at typical USA latitudes.

But basically the full moon rises around when it gets dark, and is visible all night, and reaches its highest point in the middle of the night.

However, I'll note and grant you that as soon as you move a few days off the perfect full moon, the timing shifts quickly.
This is a factor in night jumps as we typically pick the weekend closest to the full moon.

After all, if the moon's orbit is 28 days-ish, that's 13 degrees change a day vs. the earth, and 15 degrees is an hour's worth of earth rotation. So times do change by towards an hour a day.

Eg -- Picking a place at a medium US latitude, Fayetteville NC:
Full moon was on the 27th of October. Sunset 6:27, moon rises very close to that 6:56, sunrise 7:33am next day, moonset 8:38am. Moon reaches its peak at 12:47 am, roughly middle of the night.

But if you did your night jumps on Fri 30th instead, sunset is at 6:23, and moon rises at 9:28 -- changing 2 1/2 hrs in 3 days -- so one might not want to jump say 1 hour after sunset.

An important point for night jump planning is if one wants the moon rising earlier in the evening, schedule the weekend slightly BEFORE the full moon rather than slightly AFTER. This makes sure the moon will already have risen at sunset, leaving you without a moonless gap early in the evening.

Of course this varies with the season and your daylight hours -- if sunset is late then maybe a late moonrise isn't a problem.

I hope this clarifies my admittedly unclear short sentence about the position of the moon during night jumps.

[danornan 64]

dzswoop717

I don't understand why night jumps are required for a D license. I can see the need for a Pro rating holder to be night qualified because of the possibility of doing night demos. The average jumper shouldn't have to take this risk if they never plan to jump at night for fun.
I have nothing against doing night jumps, I have had a lot of fun making dozens myself. I just don't understand the logic that it is necessary to become an Expert Skydiver.

The requirements have to do with skill set and possible situations. No one ever has to make a night jump. Not even for demos. You can always come down with the airplane if it is too dark. Much too dangerous for a requirement.

Dano

[NeoX 0]

Sorry, I completely missed that you were referring to full moons only. I thought you meant in general. For full moons, yes, you are completely right in what you originally said.

He's doing his Superman thing.

[yoink 321]

BIGUN

Not enough car lights pointing at each other.

This.

[JohnMitchell 14]

NWFlyer

incredibly well-lit landing area

Night demos into the state fair. Got the whole midway full of rides to light the way down. Incredible visuals.

[dthames 0]

NWFlyer

***I waited a long time before doing the night jumps that are needed for the D license. I saw people get hurt and I heard several stories that demonstrated how easy it is to end up landing somewhere you don't want to land and under conditions where you can't see well.

Me too. I already knew my night vision wasn't very good, so I wanted to make sure I had as many things working in my favor as I could (more experience, VERY familiar DZ, incredibly well-lit landing area). As it was I had no trouble, but the DZ where I did mine brought in stadium lights, which are quite the beacon in an otherwise-dark area. I still only did the two for my D (having already completed the other requirements) and when I got down I said "Okay. Done. Never again. Can I have my fucking D license now?"

Our jumpmaster said the same thing (2 is enough). She did a great job and then rode the plane down.

I actually enjoyed it and want to do it again. I also have a more powerful headlight now too :)

Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

[jumpwally 0]

Nite jumps and water jumps should be a requirement for Pro ratings only....if you are jumping near water with a possible wet landing then wear an inflatable,,,,from my travels the biggest concern i see is freakin' power lines evrywhere...

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[Rick 67]

JohnMitchell

***
incredibly well-lit landing area

Night demos into the state fair. Got the whole midway full of rides to light the way down. Incredible visuals.
that's the thing with night demos the landing area is usually very well lit and hard to miss from the air. Also usually only 3 or 4 jumpers that are used to jumping with each other so separation is easier to achieve. I would much rather jump at night with 3 other jumpers into a stadium than a otter load of jumpers with headlights lighting the landing area

You can't be drunk all day if you don't start early!