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Skydiver’s Harrowing High-Altitude Hang-Up Ends Safely in Queensland
Tully, QLD – An Australian skydiver found himself in a truly “hanging by a thread” situation after his reserve parachute snagged on the tail of his plane at a dizzying 15,000 feet. The heart-stopping incident, which occurred on September 20th in northern Queensland, saw both the jumper and pilot navigate an unexpected airborne drama to a safe landing.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) recently released a detailed report and video chronicling the extraordinary event. Skydiver Adrian Ferguson was making a routine jump from a Cessna Caravan when his reserve parachute unexpectedly deployed, becoming entangled with the aircraft’s horizontal stabilizer.
Ferguson, displaying remarkable calm under pressure, managed to free himself using a hook knife. He sustained minor leg injuries when his legs collided with the stabilizer during the ordeal. After severing the reserve chute, he successfully deployed his main parachute, though it became somewhat tangled with the remnants of the emergency chute’s cords.
The incident unfolded during the annual “Big Ways at the Beach” event, hosted by the Far North Freefall group at Tully Airport. Ferguson was one of 17 parachutists on board, with the others safely completing their jumps before the pilot faced his own challenges.
The pilot, despite wearing his own emergency parachute, was initially unsure if a safe landing was possible after Ferguson was freed, as a portion of the reserve parachute and its cords remained wrapped around the tailplane. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell described the pilot’s initial reaction: “The pilot recalled feeling the aircraft suddenly pitch up, and observed the airspeed rapidly decreasing… Initially unaware of what had occurred, the pilot believed the aircraft had stalled.”
With limited pitch control due to the damaged tailplane, the pilot skillfully managed to maintain a gradual descent, adjusting flaps and controls to regain some maneuverability. Against the odds, the pilot successfully landed the plane at Tully Airport.
The ATSB investigation concluded that the premature deployment of Ferguson’s reserve chute was caused by the handle snagging on the aircraft during his exit. Commissioner Mitchell emphasized the importance of parachutists being acutely aware of their handles, especially during the exit phase. He also highlighted the potential life-saving benefit of carrying a hook knife, even though it’s not a regulatory requirement.
While not a contributing factor to this particular incident, the investigation also revealed that the aircraft had not been loaded within its proper weight and balance envelope. Mitchell used this as an opportunity to remind operators of the critical importance of pre-flight weight and balance calculations, citing past fatal parachuting accidents linked to improper loading.