An inexperienced jumpmaster has been blamed by Army investigators for the death of Sgt. Shaina Schmigel, the former Batavia resident who died in a training accident at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina on May 30, 2014.
The Army Times reports that the jumpmaster was performing his duties for the first time and was not current on his training.
The Times reports:
Schmigel’s equipment was misrouted so that, when exiting the plane, she became a “towed jumper.” While be being towed, the subsequent jumper exited the plane and Schmigel became entangled in his T-11 parachute. Schmigel reportedly died from fatal lacerations to the throat and a broken neck. The entire incident lasted three to four seconds, according to the report.
After Schmigel was hit by the second jumper, her body continued its decent with the parachute deployed properly. Nobody noticed anything was wrong until she was found unresponsive on the ground.
The information about the accident was obtained from the government through a Freedom of Information Request.
The jumpmaster, who was recommended for reassignment, also reportedly failed to attend a pre-jump briefing.
The investigators, however, found no criminal wrongdoing. The report contains a number of recommendations for improving paratrooper safety.
