Re: [KrisFlyZ] Wingsuit BASE jump incident video on BBC news - what's the story?
Since Hans Lange is in absentia due to dealing with the world press I'll give a short description of the events leading to his injury. From seeing his shots and hearing his story it's obvious that there were two factors contributing to this accident.
First of all he was nonchalant in picking his deployment point and direction. He never fully separated from the hillside and pulled parallel to it. This is in my opinion the gravest mistake and knowing Hans I can assure you that it will not happen again.
Second, after "inviting Murphy to the party" Murphy shows up and deals him a 90 degree right. This is something that always should be as expected as an onheading and should never be a major problem in itself. But responding by reaching for his wing cutaway (S-Fly) Hans pulls his chest strap. This is something I know many S-Fliers have done once... The delayed cutaway causes him to not be able to perform a proper cutaway from both wings before impact and in an effort to avoid the hillside he tries to make a right turn with his one free arm. This is unsuccessful, he hits with both feet, pushes off and flies still but induces several linetwists in the process. Before he untwists and is able to control the canopy he hits again. This time less prepared and with greater force, resulting in a (relatively clean and simple) fracture of his tibula(?).
The rest is pure survival mode.
Lessons we can learn: Never be nonchalant, especially with deployment point and direction.
Practice and be prepared for object avoidance. Expect to face the object after opening and react to it.
Hans (the other one...)
ps. Footage shown are from different jumpers and locations. POV camera is from Hans Lange's flight. The other clips are shot by Ludowic Woerth.
