After an uneventful two way balloon jump, my friend and I experienced a freak and almost fatal accident. We broke off at 3500 feet and tracked normally. I pulled at 2500 feet. My main opened with line twists and was flying backwards. I spun around to face my direction of flight, but due to the twists, I was unable to steer my main. My friend was ahead of, and above me, in the final stages of his deployment. He was milking down his slider as his canopy opened, surging 180 degrees to the left, directly toward me and my line twists. By the time he saw me and initiated a hard left turn, it was too late. The collision resulted in my partner suffering severe knee damage, massive bruising, and internal bleeding. He faded in and out of consciousness through the rest of the canopy ride, but fortunately he was strong enough to maintain consciousness through the landing.

The impact spun me like a top and turned my line twists into a violently spinning malfunction. I flew away from the collision with a broken femur and fibula in my left leg, two broken teeth, and two detached retinas. I tried to check my chest-mounted altimeter, but with the line twists, I could not look down. I knew I couldn't survive under my malfunctioned main. I found my handles and was under my Raven 2 by 1400 feet. The drop zone elevation was above 5300 feet MSL and the winds were very light. I weigh 195 pounds with gear. My Raven Reserve flared nicely after a mercifully flat approach.

Opening shock with a broken leg is no fun. Mike and I estimated our impact speed to be in excess of 50 mph. We are both experienced and current jumpers. We both practice emergency procedures before every jump. On this jump, it saved my life! Thanks for a quality product!

Stephen M. Polisar
Albuquerque, NM