20
BASE seasons
1500
BASE jumps
1200
WS BASE jumps
7000
Skydives
—
WS skydives
Incident
- Incident category:
- BASE Fatality
- ID:
- BFL542
- Object:
- Earth
- Cause of death:
- Impact in terminal freefall
- Date:
- 05. 06. 2026
- Time:
- 17:00
- Exit point:
- Switzerland › Gigerwald › Stiven
- Exit type:
- Short Start
Personal
- Name:
- Stiven Gade
- Gender:
- Male
- Nationality:
- German
- Age:
- 46
- Experience:
- Expert
Equipment & Setup
- Canopy:
- Atair Aerodynamics › OSP 2
- Canopy size:
- —
- Container:
- BerlinBase › BerlinBase
- Suit:
- Intrudair › ORA
- Packing:
- Slider Up
- Deployment:
- BOC
Circumstances
- Weather:
- Winds light and variable
- Factors:
- Clipped ledge after exiting
Description
We hooked up the day before and did already four
jumps together. Stiven was in good shape an highly
motivated like always.
We slept in our vans and had a relaxing morning because it was raining. We talked about his prototype suit and watched the videos from the day before to analyse his exit and the start of the suit.
He was not really happy with the first seconds in flight.
After the second breakfast we took a nap and meet again at 1pm to check the weather forecast.
It looked pretty good an so we decided to go up.
Two hours later, close to the top, we saw that there are some deep clouds at the classic exit.
We stopped hiking and talked about if we should try it and hope for clear sky or if we check out an alternative exit (lower and no clouds).
Decision was made an maps were checked and so we go for the alternative Exit called “Damit” from Yuri (16 years ago with Vampire 1)
Updated 10th June 2026
New Information has come to light that both Stiven and his jumping partner previously thought they were jumping a well known exit but now it is known due to GPS that they have exited from a new area close by to original exit and now the remaining jumper has named this exit STIVEN out of respect for Stiven.
Exit point was obviously and easy to find. We checked the line and talked about the flight and exit order. We also talked about the little waterfall next to the exit and that it will have an effect to our exit and start.
We geared up, checked everything and were ready for a two way. Same procedure as the jumps before.
Stiven gave me a countdown. He had a strong push and I followed him immediately.
His Exit and body position was good and looked to me like always, but however he lost hight in second 3 to 5 and in second 7 he impacted into the first ledge.
We jumped together for more than 10 years and I learned so many things from him. It’s a shame.
Stiven was all the years in contact with Intrudair and was obsessed to develop a perfect Wingsuit.
He tested every new suit in skydiving and went many times to Brento to check everything.
The main lesson to take away, trust your inner feelings!! If you are not happy with your suit or with your exit…. Take a step back.
A big loss for the German skydive and base community.
https://www.vol.at/wingsuit-pilot-bei-absturz-in-st-gallen-toedlich-verunglueckt/10234268
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