It happens in BASE too.
This is probably the most embarassing & downright STUPID thing I've done to date, but I think there are some lessons that might be useful to others.
Me and two friends (one I've been mentoring) go to one of our favorite local elevator towers. I've jumped the thing numerous times so I'm very familiar with the tower & the environment.
Normally the landing area is wide open, but there has been a fair amount of construction activity as of late so there is a lot of equipment strewn across the landing area. Per usual I set out a red glowy to mark the boundary of the equipment and "safe" area.
The jump was fairly uneventful. However I was jumping an older secondary rig that I rarely use because I hate the way the thing opens (wanted to do 2 that night).
Tried to set up an approach, but the thing flies like a dog and I didn't like what I was seeing so I opted for a nice clearing off to the side.
One small problem... the bottom guy stood between me and the clearing. I was so fixated on setting up for the clearing and avoiding barbed wire that I didn't pay attention to where the guys were. By the time I saw it, it was too late to do anything to avoid it.
Nose clipped the guy, partially deflated and started diving. I decided to ditch trying to flare with the toggles go hard on rear risers at the last second to try and get it to plane out a bit and allow me to PLF. That seemed to work well.
So my only injury was a severely bruised ego. But the lesson learned was twofold:
1. As obvious an obstacle as guy wires are, sometimes the obvious can be what you forget as time passes... particularly when it's dark out;
2. Even if the guy attaches at 300 at the tower, it's a LOT lower the further out you go... making it a much greater hazard at what you might think is a "safe" altitude.
Yes this is all obvious. But I figured I'd share so that the next time all of us go out, it might be closer to the forefront of our mind rather than tucked away in the back somewhere.
Be safe all!
BTW, I'm trying to do my part to make the two forums operate the way they were originally intended... strictly BASE stuff here & skydiver Q&A regarding BASE at dz.com.
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