Terrifying moment skydiver left dangling after parachute snags

Australian Community Media

A skydiver was left dangling from the tail of a plane when his parachute accidentally deployed. The incident occurred in Far North Queensland on September 20, 2025.

Transcript

00:00The ATSB's final report into the premature parachute opening involving a Cessna 208 caravan

00:06highlights the importance for the parachutists to be mindful of their handles, particularly

00:10when exiting the aircraft.

00:12On the morning of the 20th of September 2025, a Cessna 208 took off from Tully Airport in

00:17far north Queensland to conduct parachute operations with 17 parachutists on board.

00:23After the aircraft climbed to about 15,000 feet, the pilots signalled to the parachutists

00:28to exit.

00:29A camera operator stepped out onto a small step and held onto the fuselage aft of the

00:33cabin door.

00:35As the first parachutist stepped out of the door to assume the most forward front float

00:39position, their reserve parachute inadvertently deployed, dragging the parachutist backwards

00:44and dislodging the camera operator into free fall.

00:48The parachutist's legs were injured as they struck and damaged the aircraft's horizontal

00:52stabiliser.

00:53Their canopy wrapped around the horizontal stabiliser and the elevator, suspending them beneath

00:57the aircraft.

00:59Thirteen skydivers exited the aircraft and two remained in the doorway, watching as the parachutist

01:04used a hook knife to cut sufficient reserve parachute lines to enable the parachute to

01:09tear free.

01:12The parachutist then deployed their main parachute, which tangled with the remnants of the reserve

01:16canopy.

01:17However, they were able to untangle the lines and regain sufficient control of the main parachute

01:22to land without further incident.

01:25Despite control difficulties due to substantial damage to the horizontal stabiliser and part

01:29of the reserve canopy wrapped around the tail, the pilot safely landed the aircraft back

01:33at Tully Airport.

01:36The ATSB's investigation found that as the first parachutist climbed out of the aircraft

01:40and into the front float position, their reserve handle snagged on the aircraft's flap, resulting

01:45in the deployment of the reserve parachute.

01:48Although not contributing to the accident, the investigation also found the pilot and aircraft

01:52operator did not ensure the aircraft was loaded within its weight and balance envelope.

01:58Investigator in charge, Sarah Fein, said the parachutist had clipped open the roller door before

02:02exiting the aircraft, increasing safety for the pilot.

02:06As a result, the roller door remained open during the descent, increasing the ease with

02:09which the pilot could have exited the aircraft if they needed to.

02:13And although not mandatory at the time of the accident, the parachutists had a hook knife

02:17attached to their chest strap, enabling them to cut enough reserve parachute lines for the

02:21parachute to tear free of the tailplane.

02:24This accident highlights the importance of parachutists being mindful of their handles, particularly when

02:28exiting the aircraft.

02:30Carrying a hook knife secured to the parachute container could be life-saving in the event

02:35of a premature reserve parachute deployment.

02:38This investigation is also a reminder for pilots conducting parachute operations of the

02:43importance of wearing an emergency parachute and knowing how to deploy it.

02:48Parachute aircraft operators should also ensure, where possible, that there is a suitable

02:52open door for the pilot to exit in the event of an irretrievable loss of aircraft control.

02:58You can read the final report by searching AO-2025-057 on the ATSB's website, by the link below,

03:06or via the link in our bio.

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