BFL363 | 15.12.2018

Stew Berry

from United States of America33 years

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8

BASE SEASONS

500

SKYDIVES

Unknown

WS SKYDIVES

715

BASE JUMPS

Unknown

WS BASE JUMPS
  • Date & Time: 15.12.2018, 14:00
  • Location: Sputnik, Walenstadt, Switzerland
  • Category: BASE Fatality
  • Object Type: Earth
  • Cause Of Death: Impact in terminal freefall
  • Clothing - Suit: Phantom 2Beginner Wingsuit by Phoenix-Fly
  • Canopy: Unknown
  • Container: Unknown
  • Packing & Setup: Slider Up BOC Short Start
  • Weather: Snow, Winds light and variable
  • Possible Factors: Unable to locate pilot chute

What do we believe happened?

Information coming in that Stewart was jumping solo and had organised to check in with another jumper after landing but when this didn’t happen Rega was called in and he was located near the landing area. So far only information is that he may have had cold hands.

 

 

Update 3rd January 2019

There is no 100% clear idea as to what happened to Stew... even after watching the video from his GoPro (front facing), reviewing the pictures taken by the Police, and inspecting the gear. Stew had a good flight, a clear movement for pull can be seen on the video, no struggle or panic after, and stable flatter flight till impact. The lower closing loop was torn from the impact, and the canopy came out behind him on the ground. Slider was still up and the PC was out flat (bridal stretched, no knots or entanglement, and not packed as if it just slid out of the pouch). From this point on, all we can do is assume that the PC had some sort of hesitation, snag, etc.
I'll mark this up to the 1% unknown factor on a base jump, that can screw everything up. Stew was a very calculated person, months away from achieving his PhD in Neuroscience at the Zurich University

Contact

Missing something?

Can you help us with incident interpretation? We are interested in any details regarding personal experience, gear, weather conditions and any other circumstances related to the incident.

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