Accident: Tandem Parachute Jump, Near Clonbullogue Airfield (EICL), Co Offaly, 18 August 2012: Report 2013-007

SYNOPSIS

Following an uneventful tandem drogue-fall from 10,000 ft, the main chute was deployed at approximately 5,500 ft, but following inflation, it immediately developed a violent spiral rotation to the right. Unable to cut-away the main canopy, the tandem master deployed his reserve chute. There then followed a complex sequence of events that resulted in both canopies being in a condition of partial inflation. This condition persisted throughout the remaining descent until the tandem pair impacted heavily within a forest clearing. Both the tandem master and the tandem passenger suffered serious impact injuries.