Lesson learned

[imported_mknutson]

on 2/23/00 a relativly new jumper left a cliff in moab utah and deployed a field packed rig. He streamered into the talus and hit at approximately 60 mph. He rolled down the talus like a rag doll for approximately 60 yards. He was air evacuated to Grand Junction Colorado. His condition is unknown at this time, but he is alive. I have included a photo of the canopy as we found it with the tail pocket tucked in to the daisy chain. The jumper was jumping borrowed gear and never checked or re-packed the rig. The moral of this story is, well, I will let you figure that one out

Have a G}>WayL}>w day

http://www.baselogic.com/images/base/knot2.jpg
image by 321cya.com
--
Thanks

Mick Knutson
BLiNC Magazine

"Everything you ever wanted to know about BASE Jumping, but didn't know who to ask."
--

[guest]

Mick said,
>The moral of this story is, well, I will let you figure that one out

Gee Mick, there are people out here who might not have the experience to figure it out. The fact this fellow did what he did makes that obvious.

(I’ve already heard someone say which direction you daisy chain is important, WHAT?)

The knee jerk reaction is get a pre-jump gear check. But, that's not right as a pre-jump gear check wouldn't necessarily include opening the container.

The real moral here is simple. And one parachute riggers already know, but jumpers always ignore.

"A field packed rig *should look* field packed!"

(This means fabric hanging out, flagged in some way, or just not made to look jumpable).

This has happened before of course (hasn't everything)? Back in 1981 a sailplane pilot in San Diego purchased a glider with a parachute included. It was a chest mount and a harness and he assumed it was fine, after all, to a wuffo (and now, oh my God, to new BASE jumpers) a parachute is a parachute, right?

Well, the very same thing happened (field packed to look jumpable, lines daisy chained) except in this case, it killed him.

However, here is the bigger question involving this latest case.

Could you, have you, or would you, ever jump a BASE rig you didn't personally pack without at least checking to see if the pilot chute bridle is connected to something?

You must admit though, fate, luck, karma, etc, played a part here. I wonder why? (Not wishing anything at all bad on this person, in fact I hope he fully recovers, I just wonder, will he be President someday . . .

Nick_BR

[guest]

Here's my two cents worth (and that's most likely all it's worth). NO one should point fingers. True the jumper should check his gear, but the individual loaning the gear should have some knowledge of the rig condition. Every one jumps borrowed gear at some point in their life and we place trust in both ourselves and the loaner when we jump that gear. This is a sport where the hurt potential is huge. Hopefully we can learn from these accidents and prevent more of them. Check your gear, check the gear you borrow, check the gear you loan, check your friends' gear at exit point. It never hurts to check and double check.

jeremy

[guest]

This is actually the fourth time I have heard of this.

There was an incident at Bridge Day in 1997 that was well documented. That individual survived thanks to his friend convincing him not jump over the tracks.

Like any accident there are a number of links in the chain and usually more than one must fail before things go bad.

On a daily basis I'm amazed at the amount of complacency I witness with parachute equipment.

I make the stuff, and don't have the blind trust in it I see from many jumpers.

Unless it is properly manufactured, assembled maintained and packed a rig is no more a life saving device than a pile of scrap nylon is a parachute.


So here are some "nuggets": They are as old as dirt yet we still have occasion to quote them.

"Borrowed gear kills"
"Look before you leap"

(This one's an original) "Darwin Lurks"!



Adam

[guest]

Natural selection like gravity never sleeps,if you jump a rig that you did not pack you are and soon may become a bloody idiot,if you don,t know what your doing base can be fatal,play safe andy west.

[guest]

I remember my first jump... standing on the edge of a big ol' bridge, wearing borrowed gear. i looked at my base pappa and said " are you sure this things gonna open?" - he looked me strait in the eye with a quirky little smirk and said "do ya wanna trade?"

"naw, that's all i needed."

[guest]

Several points:

1st... This thread was started by GoWayLow!
2nd...This posting is by Mick Knutson.

3rd...The rig that was field packed, did not look field packed.

4th...Don't assume that anyone knows better!

5th...Never jump gear you have not fully inspected!

6th...Nathan just walked through the hallway by himself!!!!!!!!

He is just really bruised up!

Mick Knutson...

[guest]

I have about 100 base jumps & make about 10 a year now, not that much. I know when I go to moab, it's like going to Disney World. Everyone is so excited, ready to jump right then. It's like going to Disney World with NO WAITING LINES! But that should not stop us from taking a deep breath, relaxing, enjoing the moment & CHECKING our gear! We all need to slow it down a notch. Enjoy one jump at a time. I know I sometimes have to stop, relax, walk & not run to the no waiting lines in MOAB.

Safe Jumping

[guest]

Thanks for letting us no He is ok. I was glad it wasn't Wes from Phoenix! Be safe out there guys!

[guest]

Mick! I jumped with a relatively new jumper (~57 BASE jumps) last weekend. His name was Nathan and he was going to Moab. Blond hair, blue eyes, about 21, from Iowa but living in west Florida now? Is this the same Nathan that got hurt there??????

Just bruised up?????

-Chris

[guest]

This is the very same person!

[guest]

I too remember my first jump. Standing on the top of a 485' tower. I turned and asked my base pappa "are you sure this is going to work?" I don't remember what he said but it did. Thanks Tip-Toe. Call me sometime.

Erich

[guest]

Michelle,
Remember what I said about the chain of events that leads to an accident? Adam knows.
Miss you guys, wish I was there.

[guest]

pretty funny mick, but you can stop pulling our leg now.
april fools day is a month away.

no one would be this stupid.

would they?

[imported_mknutson]

I am very sad in a way, to say this is not a joke.
A person left their gear in a pile at the packing area in Moab.
This person DID NOT say it was OK to jump. He thought (assumed) that his friend would be re-packing all the rigs.

The jumper in question did not re-pack or open the rig to fully check the contents.
He assumed that it was OK.

He got real lucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do not assume anything!
Be careful out there!

--
Thanks

Mick Knutson
BLiNC Magazine

"Everything you ever wanted to know about BASE Jumping, but didn't know who to ask."
--

[guest]

Hey Mick,
How much of the flapping mess was actually inflated? How much line was out of the daisy chain? How wildly was he spinning/flailing? How large was the talus that he impacted?... I am not going to comment on the event but would like to know how he survived.
Brrrr... the initial post gave me such creeps before finding out he lived

[guest]

This is the canopy "after" Nathan jumped (Anne brought this photo back) it shows the daisy chained lines and the slider locking it all off.

"Just when you think, you've seen it all."
Nick_BR

[http://www.basicresearch.com/daisy.gif]

[bps]

Hi JonE -

I just returned from Moab this morning...I was on the edge when Nathan jumped and saw the entire incident from exit to the life-flight helicopter ride.

Nathan exited a cliff that was 350-400ft high and took a 1 1/2 to 2 second delay. The canopy came out of the container slowly and 2-3 cells were partially inflated. By partially inflated, I mean that approx. 50% of the 2 to 3 cells were inflated. (a portion of the trailing edge was used to lock off the daisy chain)

He was feet to earth and was wrestling with the risers as the canopy streamered and spun clockwise until impact.

Nathan impacted on a very steep slope that was littered with sharp boulders - approx. 80% of the slope was boulders while the other 20% was very loose sand/dirt.

It appeared as if he initially hit a soft spot and then began to tumble/cartwheel down the slope hitting several boulders in the process.

In my opinion, *INCREDIBLE* luck combined with energy dissipation from landing on a steep slope is what saved his life.

With that said - I still cannot believe that he survived this incident - it was the gnarliest thing I have ever seen.

Bryan

[guest]

I thank everyone who helped me in this event. Especially, Anne H., Joe W., Mike F., and Lee W. for rushing to the scene and offering your expertise and keeping me stable.
I would like to take the time to tell you more on the incident so others will not make the same mistake and not be so lucky. I will do this after better compiling my thoughts when I arrive home in two days. Again thank you very much everyone.

[guest]

IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS JUMPING A 52" PILOT CHUTE!!!!
NO SIHT!!! PUNK.

[guest]

For what my opinion is worth. I have a low number of base jumps myself but was taught just a few basics.
Never jump if it just does not feel right.
Never trust borrowed gear and check it yourself.
Concentrate on perfect Body position.
If it doesn't look good, repack it again.
Don't jump alone.
Headwinds while jumping buildings or cliffs can spin you right around into them.

How many more need to get flown out because of stupidity, either on his part or the lenders part.
I'm glad he survived.
As for the "blond" who ended up on the wall at moab. Didn't anyone realize she had low jumps and was jumping in high headwinds? Who was the senior jumpers standing around and not lending advice.
Am I the only one who worries about the possibility of losing BLM lands? CJAA, "it's our park too", lets get more access? How about lets preserve what we have before that is lost? I savor every jump i get and appreciate and respect the legal spots, but at least think before you jump!
PS, i have broken some of the rules myself, i'm not perfect, sometimes the jump can be hard to pass up. But a pack job and inspection is number 1.

[guest]

I COULDNT OF MADE IT TO YOU WITHOUT JUSTIN!!!
PUNK.

[grimleaper]

1st leg of his journey home is complete. I handed him off last night at 10pm to his girlfriend (Angel) and they were gonna spend the night in SA and probably be home by 8 pm today.the 1st day of the trip he slept a lot (probably due to lack of rest in MOAB). Yesterday he slept very little and kept me company all day (13 hrs) while i drove.
He seemed to be getting around much better,especially walkin into the airport she flew into-he was almost running--he's a tough guy.Sooooooooo that's the update.

[guest]

hey it's the daisy chain crew!

[guest]

it sure is------ THE DAISY CHAIN CREW-----whomever you are you can e mail me direct at bgrimm@boernenet.com------- if you've the nerve,
or is that it you are an anonymous coward???