BFL35 | 1.1.1996

Don Sampson

from United States of America

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Unknown

BASE SEASONS

30

SKYDIVES

Unknown

WS SKYDIVES

Unknown

BASE JUMPS

Unknown

WS BASE JUMPS
  • Date & Time: 1.1.1996
  • Location: Royal Gorge, Colorado, United States of America
  • Category: BASE Fatality
  • Object Type: Span
  • Cause Of Death: Landing, Approach
  • Clothing - Suit: SlickSlick by Everyday Clothing worn
  • Canopy: Unknown
  • Container: Unknown
  • Packing & Setup: Slider Down-Off BOC Vertical
  • Weather: Sunny, Winds light and variable
  • Possible Factors: Proximity flying

What do we believe happened?


Don had 30 skydives and an unknown amount of BASE jumps when he had another person pack his parachute for this jump.

The report included the line, Don is an idiot when it came to assessing risks.

On a previous occasion he decided to teach a climbing buddy of his to BASE jump.
He correctly figured some skydiving experience would be helpful so he forged a logbook to make his buddy look USPA B license qualified.
The report stated, Don took this two-way out of a plane that almost killed them both. He later took this same friend off a tower.

Don flew himself into a corner, after this bridge jump, and panic hooked himself into the canyon wall.
He died from severe head trauma.
This and the only previous fatality from this bridge both involve canopy control problems in the tight landing area.

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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