This jumper deployed his main parachute at approximately 3,500 feet, and it was immediately obvious the parachute had malfunctioned and would not inflate. He released the main parachute a few seconds after the deployment and opened his reserve parachute.

The exact cause of the malfunction was indeterminate. After this skydiver’s previous jump, he quickly field-packed the main parachute and had a packer repack it for him once he returned to the drop zone. Packing a parachute carefully according to the manufacturer’s instructions and ensuring that the four line-groups are clear will help it open correctly.