This jumper received a gear check in the boarding area, and the person who checked it noticed that the main pilot chute bridle was running between the flaps, a serious misrouting that would have caused a high-speed, total malfunction. If the jumper deployed the main pilot chute with the bridle in this configuration, the force of the pilot chute would have been applied to the flap, not to the pin, leaving him with a pilot chute in tow.

The jumper conducted a gear check before donning the equipment but overlooked the misrouting. Whether they pack their own parachutes or rely on a packer, skydivers should have an in-depth understanding of their gear and the manufacturer’s instructions for proper packing. This situation illustrates why jumpers should not only check their own gear before jumping but should also receive a gear check from another person after donning the equipment, as a second set of eyes may catch overlooked problems.