Fusion1944

Agreed.

Also keep in mind the jumper in my video thought he was way low. He thought he was gonna die. The question you have to ask "Would I have still tracked thinking I was below 1000 feet? " I would hope that I never loose awareness that I would Be in his situation. Did he put me in the line of fire? Yes he did. He was in panic mode trying to save his own skin. Another lesson here is he put me in the line of fire of a main canopy at what he thought was under 1000 feet. Making the wrong decision to deploy his main instead of his reserve. Another question: Would that many jumper loose awareness and all go in? Probably not. He just saw us but panic took hold of him.

That's me in bottom left of frame in red and black jumpsuit tracking. No my track was not perfect and still isn't. But my horizontal distance was sufficient even back then. I still practice tracking every time I go jump. Even when I was at 48 jumps when that video was shot I understood the importance of separation before deployment. Just to make sure everyone understands: THAT was NOT me that Deployed Under the Formation. That was another Jumper. Edit to add I don't suspect my track will ever be perfect either but I will strive for it. I have been a very conservative jumper from my first solo. Some may say this is crazy or not but the safety of those that I jump with comes before my own. I could not live with myself if I injured someone else. I absolutely understand the seriousness of what happened on this jump and hope I never see it again. Still scares me when I watch it and I think of my daughters. I avoided posting it for a long time till I saw a thread that it fit into as a learning tool.

That jump was all experienced jumpers except me and the guy that deployed under me. He (one that almost killed me) had more jumps than I did at the time and jump was organized by competent organizer. As you say a lowtimer like myself didn't know enough to keep an eye on the other guy. It's like riding my Harley your more likely to get killed by the other driver not just cruising around and not showboating.

Lesson learned. Head on a swivel even in freefall and especially if someone goes low. Not that I had much time to move in that situation anyhow though.

Jump number 48 last year. Happens very quick and I didn't realize how bad it could have been till I saw the video. I'm the guy in red and black jumpsuit. Other Guy lost alti awareness and thought he was way low and pulled at 5500 feet right under me. Feet slid cross his canopy. I'm at 168 jumps now and thankful to still be able to. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-2Ej5ZoLMU edited to fix url