Reports state Joe used a packing aid, a pull up cord, while folding and stowing his pilot chute on the bridge. It is not known for sure if he removed the pull up cord prior to jumping. He then did a floater launch that went slightly head low and he pitched at 2.5 seconds. Witnesses on the bridge report his pilot chute looked too small the inference being the pull up cord is still on the pilot chute. Another witness, in the LZ, said the pilot chute was inflated just prior to impact. The bridle was found to be tightly wound around one of Joe's ankles. The container remained closed (although one witness said it opened at the last moment) and when examined the pilot chute was free of any packing aids. Another witness on the bridge, who was not part of Joe's group, said he watched Joe use the pull up cord to stow his pilot chute, but couldn't say if it was left in place as he never saw the pull up cord again. This witness also mentioned he pointed out that Joe had twisted a leg strap while donning his rig and that Joe fixed the twist prior to launching. Joe is the fourth Perrine Bridge fatality and the eleventh BASE fatality of 2006.