‘unsuitable’ after death

death was that the water emergency response plan of operator NZONE had no regard for the anticipated time people could survive in cold water.

The water temperature was about 10 degrees Celsius. At that temperature it can take less the five minutes for drowning to occur from cold shock.

While the nearby Cecil Peak Station manager and crew were first on the scene in their boat, about 13 minutes after the tandem pair entered the water, and rescued the tandem master, it took 30 minutes for the first of the planned responders to arrive from Queenstown. NZONE has since provided its own rescue vessel at the aerodrome.

The double malfunction of the main parachute and the reserve parachute was considered rare.

NZONE reported this was its first double malfunction and its first unintended water landing.

The commission found packing of the main parachute had likely led to the twisted ropes but no definitive explanation was reached for either parachute.

NZONE had since employed an independent parachute technician and made improvements to its packing operations.

TAIC recommended the Ministry of Transport work with the CAA and New Zealand’s two parachute recreation organisations to improve Civil Aviation Rules to mitigate the risks of unintended water landings, and to specify flotation devices suitable for use by parachutists.