Frog
5 November 2003, 16:11
DCH asked:
Can someone explain what type of canopy maneuver the team was doing when the accident happened??
First here is what the paper reported:
Parachutist Falls 50 Feet to His Death During Practice Session at Tampa Stadium
The Associated Press
Published: Aug 31, 2001
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A paratrooper who had performed more than 1,000 freefall jumps died Thursday after his parachute partially collapsed during a practice session at a football stadium.
Lt. Cmdr. Rock E. Blais, 40, fell about 50 feet onto the field at Raymond James Stadium, suffering internal injuries and a broken leg.
It occurred while the U.S. Special Operations demonstration team from MacDill Air Force Base was rehearsing for community events in the area.
Blais and three others were practicing landing and were doing a maneuver in which the parachute is dipped to slow it down, said Tampa Fire Department spokesman Capt. Bill Wade.
"For some reason, the chute partially collapsed and the man fell onto the field," Wade said.
Blais was a Navy SEAL and member of the demonstration team, which before Thursday had never had a fatal accident. The team helps the base in community relations and recruitment efforts.
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What happened:
Rock died from an unintentional low hook turn in Ray James Stadium during a practice jump. He had well over 1000 jumps and was very experienced. He overshot the downwind turn and instead of opting to land in the empty bleachers, he did the quick hook turn. He landed chest first and ruptured his aorta.
I post this only to dispel the rumors and hopefully prevent this from happening to anyone else. Rock was a good friend of mine and served as my OPSO at one time.
I managed to survive a very similar incident at an air show, which knocked me unconscious. My choice was the wires or a hook turn. I landed headfirst on the last note of the National Anthem.
Can someone explain what type of canopy maneuver the team was doing when the accident happened??
First here is what the paper reported:
Parachutist Falls 50 Feet to His Death During Practice Session at Tampa Stadium
The Associated Press
Published: Aug 31, 2001
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A paratrooper who had performed more than 1,000 freefall jumps died Thursday after his parachute partially collapsed during a practice session at a football stadium.
Lt. Cmdr. Rock E. Blais, 40, fell about 50 feet onto the field at Raymond James Stadium, suffering internal injuries and a broken leg.
It occurred while the U.S. Special Operations demonstration team from MacDill Air Force Base was rehearsing for community events in the area.
Blais and three others were practicing landing and were doing a maneuver in which the parachute is dipped to slow it down, said Tampa Fire Department spokesman Capt. Bill Wade.
"For some reason, the chute partially collapsed and the man fell onto the field," Wade said.
Blais was a Navy SEAL and member of the demonstration team, which before Thursday had never had a fatal accident. The team helps the base in community relations and recruitment efforts.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What happened:
Rock died from an unintentional low hook turn in Ray James Stadium during a practice jump. He had well over 1000 jumps and was very experienced. He overshot the downwind turn and instead of opting to land in the empty bleachers, he did the quick hook turn. He landed chest first and ruptured his aorta.
I post this only to dispel the rumors and hopefully prevent this from happening to anyone else. Rock was a good friend of mine and served as my OPSO at one time.
I managed to survive a very similar incident at an air show, which knocked me unconscious. My choice was the wires or a hook turn. I landed headfirst on the last note of the National Anthem.