Above: Photo by Matt Jackson.
Most injuries and fatalities in skydiving involve fully functional parachutes and are often the result of insufficient proficiency in essential canopy skills. Mastering canopy-flight emergency procedures (CEPs)—standardized emergency techniques designed to help jumpers make split-second decisions that can avert near misses or severe accidents—is crucial for all skydivers, especially educators responsible for training new jumpers. The 2025 Skydiver’s Information Manual and USPA’s Stay Alive – Practice Five campaign emphasize the need for regular practice of CEPs to build the muscle memory that enables jumpers to avoid canopy collisions and respond effectively to low-altitude emergencies under fully functional canopies.
The case studies below, all from 2024, illustrate each CEP’s importance. Although all incidents have a chain of events that include several determinative factors, these case studies focus primarily on how improved mastery of CEP skills could have changed the outcomes.
CEP #1: REAR-RISER TURNS
♦ Rear-riser turns enable quick directional changes, which are crucial for avoiding canopy collisions immediately after opening or during descent. Rear-riser control is also a valuable skill when evaluating a potential malfunction.
♦ Use rear-riser turns during emergencies requiring swift directional change or to maintain stability and heading control while assessing canopy performance.
Case Study:
A 12-way group broke off at the designated altitude, but two of the jumpers did not achieve adequate separation before deploying their parachutes. The higher jumper encountered line twists immediately after deployment and lost situational awareness while attempting to resolve the issue. Simultaneously, the lower jumper’s main canopy had a long snivel, during which time the higher jumper descended into the lower jumper’s canopy and the two entangled.
Upon recognizing the situation, both jumpers communicated and remained calm and coordinated. The lower jumper cut away their main canopy and deployed their reserve parachute. Meanwhile, the higher jumper successfully disentangled from the cut-away parachute. Both jumpers landed safely at the drop zone without further incident.
The lack of sufficient horizontal separation during the breakoff phase was the primary factor in this incident, and the loss of awareness while addressing line twists also played a significant role. Adherence to proper breakoff and tracking procedures is crucial to preventing similar incidents. The Skydiver’s Information Manual emphasizes the importance of maintaining adequate horizontal separation before deployment to ensure clear airspace.
In this case, regular practice of rear-riser turns would have enabled the jumpers to respond more effectively. Specifically, the higher jumper could have reached above the line twist to control the canopy and stop or reduce the spin, giving the jumper time to assess their air space. For cases where the line twists are out of reach, a jumper can rotate the twists down onto the risers and then reach above them to control the canopy flight with rear-riser input and assess their situation, especially when jumping with larger groups where a jumper knows there will be congested canopy traffic after opening.
How to Practice Rear-Riser Turns: Practice rear-riser turns, both with the brakes stowed and with the brakes released, above your decision altitude. Immediately after opening, after determining that the canopy is flying straight and is stable, place both hands on the rear risers (with brakes stowed), clear your airspace and perform 90-degree turns. A method for performing rear-riser turns involves grasping the area above the toggle stow and pulling downward until your elbow forms up to a 90-degree angle. Take note of how far you need to pull down the rear riser to accomplish a quick but stable 90-degree turn.
Then, after releasing your brakes and doing a controllability check, clear your airspace, and with the toggles in your hands, grasp the area above where the toggle was stowed and pull downward until your elbow forms up to a 90-degree angle to complete a 90-degree turn. It is important to know the limits of your parachute at your wing loading to effectively avoid a collision with a rear-riser turn while also maintaining a stable wing. An overly aggressive turn with rear risers can result in a canopy stall and line twists—possibly fatal at low altitudes—so jumpers must learn what those limits are on the canopy they are flying.
Photo by Matt Jackson.
CEP #2: 90-DEGREE BRAKED TURNS
♦ Braked turns allow directional changes with minimal altitude loss while maintaining a stable and level wing, providing critical decision-making time during emergencies.
♦Necessary in tight landing areas or when object avoidance requires a controlled low-altitude maneuver.
Case Study:
An A-licensed jumper in the landing pattern was set up too high, placing them on a trajectory that could have led to a collision with nearby buildings. The jumper executed a 90-degree turn at 200 to 250 feet to correct their course and redirect toward a more open area. They then realized they might strike a fence or land on a road and in response made a low turn at approximately 25 feet, which resulted in a hard landing. Witnesses noted that another jumper on the same load faced a similar issue but employed braked turns to adjust their trajectory and land safely with a level wing.
This incident highlights the importance of proper altitude awareness and decision-making during the landing phase. The jumper’s initial misjudgment of altitude and subsequent low turn significantly contributed to the hard landing. Low turns at such altitudes leave little room for canopy recovery, considerably increasing the risk of injury.
Mastery of 90-degree braked turns could have changed the outcome for the first jumper as it did for the second jumper. This skill allows jumpers to adjust their heading with minimal altitude loss, maintaining a level wing and stable canopy flight.
Photo by Matt Jackson.How to Practice 90-Degree Braked Turns: Above your decision altitude, practice braked turns from the slowest speed at which the canopy will fly above the stall point. If you do not know your stall point on your current canopy, you must find that first. To practice the slowest speed braked turns that lose the least amount of altitude, first check your canopy, altitude, position and traffic. Pull both toggles down smoothly and evenly to deep brakes, just above the stall point. Take note where your hands are on your body as a reference and to build muscle memory. Raise one toggle slightly to initiate a 90-degree turn in the opposite direction. Push the toggle back down even with the other toggle to stop the turn. Try to change heading as quickly as possible while keeping the wing level.
To practice braked turns from half to three-quarter brakes, pull both toggles down evenly to at least the half-braked position. Push one toggle down slightly to initiate a 90-degree turn. The deeper in brakes you are flying the canopy and initiating the turn, the less altitude you will lose during the turn. Practice changing heading as quickly as possible, while keeping the wing level.
CEP #3: HALF-BRAKED FLARES
♦ Mastering braked flares ensure effective landings from a braked position, a common scenario in emergencies when returning to full flight is unsafe.
♦ Use half-braked flares after initiating a flare too early, following a braked turn close to the ground or for neutralizing a low turn near touch down.
Case Study:
An experienced skydiver entered the landing pattern unusually low, placing them over a parking lot at approximately 100 feet as they turned onto their final approach. As the jumper descended, the canopy’s inability to penetrate the wind caused a nearly vertical descent. At 20 to 30 feet above the ground, the jumper applied half-brakes but appeared uncertain while managing the canopy from that position. Instead of maintaining the half-braked position, the jumper returned to full flight and immediately transitioned to a full flare. These abrupt control inputs resulted in the jumper surging onto a parked truck and the gravel surface of the parking lot.
Medical personnel on site responded promptly. The jumper was unconscious for 2 to 3 minutes but regained awareness and was able to answer basic questions, though they had no memory of the landing. The jumper was transported to a local hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries and contusions, including a head laceration requiring stitches.
The jumper’s actions suggest a lack of confidence or practice in landing from a braked position, likely leading to an instinctive return to full flight before flaring. The inability to manage a stable descent and landing in half-brakes contributed to the hard landing and subsequent injuries. Regular practice of half-braked flares is essential for developing the muscle memory and confidence required for controlled descents in challenging situations. This skill is particularly critical when navigating constrained landing areas.
How to Practice Half-Braked Flares: Above your decision altitude, practice braked flares by first checking your canopy, altitude, position and traffic. For reference, start with a flare from full flight, using your normal landing technique. Note the pitch change of your parachute and your swing forward under the parachute when at full flare.
Pull the toggles to a half-braked position and hold for 4 to 5 seconds to stabilize under the parachute. Flare at a speed faster and with more force than your normal flare stroke. Note the pitch change of your parachute and your swing forward under the parachute during the braked flare. Adjust the speed and force of the braked flare on multiple practices with the goal to most effectively match the power and swing under the canopy of a flare from full flight.
Photo by Matt Jackson.
CEP #4: TURN REVERSALS
♦ Turn reversals are critical for preventing line twists when you are making rapid maneuvers to avoid collisions. They test the canopy’s limits under maximum input, helping jumpers avoid secondary issues during emergencies.
♦ Turn reversals are essential when avoiding another canopy during descent or in the landing pattern.
Case Study:
Two jumpers were part of separate groups on the same load. Jumper 2 exited late on the jump run, and had sufficient altitude to move to the holding area and execute a standard landing pattern. Jumper 1 exited first on the jump run and opened downwind of the landing area. Facing difficulty returning to the holding area, Jumper 1 decided to hold over the planned crosswind area and enter the pattern at the location of the planned turn to final.
To adjust his altitude before merging into the landing pattern, Jumper 1 performed several 360-degree turns. As he approached his intended altitude, he executed a series of sashays to fine-tune his position. Upon completing his final sashay, Jumper 1 noticed Jumper 2 directly before him. Startled by the imminent collision, Jumper 1 froze, and the two collided seconds later at the junction of the base-to-final turn in the landing pattern
The collision caused Jumper 2’s canopy to collapse partially, turning it 90 degrees and redirecting it toward a wooded area. As Jumper 2 regained canopy control, they struck a tree, which led to another canopy collapse, causing a fall of approximately 30 feet to the ground under a partially inflated canopy. Jumper 2 sustained severe injuries from the fall. Jumper 1 experienced minimal disruption to his canopy and landed safely in the designated landing area.
This incident highlights the need for well-rehearsed canopy-collision-avoidance techniques, particularly turn reversals. Jumper 1’s reaction—freezing upon seeing Jumper 2’s canopy directly ahead—suggests a lack of practiced response for such scenarios. Proficiency in turn reversals would have allowed Jumper 1 to execute a rapid directional adjustment, potentially avoiding the collision and its severe consequences.
How to Practice Turn Reversals: Practice above your decision altitude. First, check your canopy, altitude, position and traffic. Make a smooth but deep turn at least 90-degrees to the right, then reverse toggle positions smoothly but quickly for a 180-degree turn to the left. The first attempt should be a slow reversal of toggle positions. Note the depth of the toggle input and the line tension during the reversal. Continue to increase the depth of the toggle input and the speed of the reversal of toggle positions on subsequent practices to find the maximum depth of toggle input and speed of that input, while maintaining line tension and avoiding line twists.
Photo by Matt Jackson.
CEP# 5: LOW-TURN RECOVERY
♦ Low-turn recovery skills help jumpers in emergency situations regain level flight quickly, reduce their descent speed and prepare for an immediate braked flare.
♦ Use when you initiate a turn too close to the ground, leaving insufficient time for natural canopy recovery.
Case Study:
Four experienced skydivers participated in a Level 1 demonstration jump over a golf course. The weather during the jump featured moderate winds, gusting between 10 to 12 knots, with slight turbulence. Two skydivers landed without incident. The third skydiver performed a low turn but managed to land relatively safely, sustaining only minor bruises. However, the fourth skydiver misjudged their altitude during the approach and made a low turn using front risers, sustaining a broken ankle and pelvis during the landing.
An investigation revealed that the altitude difference between the takeoff area and the landing zone—approximately 140 feet—may have contributed to the incident. Though the jumpers had switched on their altimeters and AADs at the landing area, the altimeters of the third and fourth jumpers likely reset to the takeoff area’s elevation.
This incident not only highlights the importance of having accurate altitude readings during canopy flight, but also the need to practice low-turn recovery. Low-turn recovery is a crucial skill that would have enabled the third and fourth jumpers to stabilize their canopies quickly and reduce their descent speeds. In particular, practice of low-turn recovery drills would have given the fourth skydiver the ability to act immediately and appropriately, avoiding or reducing the severity of their injuries. With regular practice, jumpers can develop the muscle memory necessary to neutralize turns and execute controlled landings when they realize they are too low to land safely late while turning.
How to Practice Low-Turn Recovery: First, check your canopy, altitude (you must be above your decision altitude when practicing), position and traffic. From full flight, pull one toggle down to at least quarter brakes to initiate a 90-degree turn. To neutralize the turn, pull the toggle that is still in full flight down to match the lower toggle, resulting in both toggles in a braked position, and think about doing a braked flare. During an actual emergency landing, hold the toggles even until the appropriate height to finish a braked flare and be prepared to do a parachute landing fall (PLF).
Each canopy-flight emergency procedure is a life-saving skill. It can mean the difference between a safe landing and a serious incident. The CEPs demand consistent practice and a commitment to mastering them. Skydiving is a dynamic, high-stakes activity. Canopy emergencies do not allow room for uncertainty or hesitation. That is why we must train to respond with confidence and decisiveness.
Your commitment to practicing and perfecting canopy-flight emergency procedures doesn’t just keep you safe; it sets the standard for everyone. So, make the promise today to tether yourself to your practice, to take that practice seriously and to master the skills that enable you to make safe decisions under the canopy when it counts the most.
Stopping a turn –vs– Neutralizing a turn
“Stopping a turn” and “neutralizing a turn” are two key terms that are often used interchangeably. However, they refer to different actions in canopy-flight emergency scenarios.
Stopping a turn involves returning the canopy to full flight by smoothly raising the toggles after initiating a turn. Stopping a turn allows the canopy to stabilize naturally, resuming its standard descent rate and forward speed. This technique works best when there is adequate altitude for the canopy to recover independently.
Neutralizing a turn involves pulling the opposite toggle down to match the initial input, bringing both toggles to an even, braked position. This action halts the turn and slows the canopy’s forward speed and descent rate, achieving level flight as quickly as reasonably possible. Neutralizing a turn is critical in low-altitude scenarios where there isn’t enough time or space for the canopy to recover independently, and it’s often necessary to follow with a braked flare.