James Richard Pouchert Jimmy
BFL#: 420 (1st of the year)
Name: James Richard Pouchert (Jimmy)
Date: January 7, 2022
Nationality: American
Location: Super Gorgeous, Moab UT
Object Type: Earth
COD: Impact
Clothes / Suit: Wingsuit - Stryx
Gear / Parachute: Apex Summit, Flick 2 260
Age: 53
Skydive Experience: Unknown
BASE Jumps: Unknown
WS BASE Experience: 10+ seasons
Years/Seasons in Base: 24
Time of day: 12:01pm
Other factors: 1st WS BASE jump in Moab
Exit Altitude: 160m/524ft Vertical - 460m/1510ft overall
Conditions: Beautiful, light wind, warm rising air, sunny all day. -2C at start of hike approx. 10C at exit time
Wind on exit: 5kts from the jumpers left
Description:
Jimmy called me up about a week ago. He asked me if I’ve been doing any wingsuiting in Moab. I told him yes, a bit. He said he was ready to make his first wingsuit BASE jump in Moab. He said he was current and ready. He had just returned from a WS (wingsuit) skydiving trip in AZ and a fall season spent jumping in Switzerland.
We talked about all the potential exit points available in the region. We selected Super Gorgeous, based on the vertical height of the cliff, the start arc, and the direction of the cliff face relative to the winter sun. We had planned to go out on Saturday initially, but the weather forecast didn’t look good. We discussed how important it is to have ideal conditions when making a jump of this type. The forecast for Thursday and Friday looked fantastic, so we changed our plans to ju mp Friday instead.
We touched base Thursday evening to confirm our plans, review the forecasted wind, sun, and high/low temperatures for the day. Everything lined up beautifully. Just below freezing in the early am, warm sunny winter day with light and variable winds till noon. There was a slight possibility of stronger winds on the forecast for later in the day, which did not occur. The winds were less than 5kts all day. Warm sun directly on the talus and cliff face all morning and throughout the day. We planned to allow three hours to hike and gear up. Jumping around 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
We met at Rocky Rapids at 8 AM and launched our SUPs by 8:30. We reviewed the exit point and potential flight lines from the bottom and began our hike. Midway through the hike, we noted an inversion layer and made a point to stay observant of the conditions. As we gained altitude and time passed, the inversion layer lifted, and the conditions changed to thermic.
We arrived at the exit point at 11:11 AM. Conditions appeared ideal: rising air with a light breeze from jumpers left to right. We once again reviewed all the relative elements involved in the jump. We established the lines we intended to fly and discussed the critical factors involved. At exactly noon, we hugged told each other, “I LOVE YOU!” and at 12:01, Jimmy pushed off.
His push was good, and the launch looked normal. One second into the start, Jimmy appeared to be slightly right shoulder low, potentially compensating for heading adjustment or possibly the crosswind element. As he got further into the start arc, it was apparent that he was working to maintain his heading down the center of the deepest part of the talus. His forward speed was not quite as high as I would expect during the first four to five seconds , and he was crabbing very slightly from right to left. Approximately six seconds into his fight, he impacted the talus. He did not clear the first ledge and was killed immediately upon impact. He came to rest a little further down the talus.
I immediately dispatched an SOS call from my InReach satellite communication device. Search & Rescue was on the scene as quickly as possible.
My best assessment of the factors contributing to this accident:
1. The jump itself has very little to no margin for error.
2. The suit Jimmy selected may not have given him every possible advantage in the start arc.
3. The slight left to right breeze had some effect on his ability to hold his chosen heading and affected his start arc and forward speed negatively.
4. A more downwind heading would have improved the forward speed in the initial portion of the start arc.
My last point is subjective and speaks towards anyone who may be considered jumps of this type or in this area. These jumps are very clearly, directly into terrain flight immediately after exit. I have not known Jimmy to be a “terrain flyer.” So we discussed this before exiting. I explained to him that in my previous flights from this exit point that the start arc transitions directly to terrain flight and that no matter how I might try, I could not outfly the terrain with any additional altitude beyond what was needed to fly at a minimum. He understood that as he stepped off. Unfortunately, he was not able to outfly the terrain.
My advice for anybody considering jumps of this type or in this area, ensure that your skill set includes an adequate margin for error and a familiarity with the severity and intensity of the flying style required and the circumstances to which we will be subjecting ourselves.
Even all that may not be enough.
Jimmy was one of my very best friends.
He was incredibly dear to me. I’m both utterly tortured and honored to have been with him on his final flight. I will speak towards the depth of his character and our loving friendship later.
Blue Skies Brother - We will miss you.
JayMo
Name: James Richard Pouchert (Jimmy)
Date: January 7, 2022
Nationality: American
Location: Super Gorgeous, Moab UT
Object Type: Earth
COD: Impact
Clothes / Suit: Wingsuit - Stryx
Gear / Parachute: Apex Summit, Flick 2 260
Age: 53
Skydive Experience: Unknown
BASE Jumps: Unknown
WS BASE Experience: 10+ seasons
Years/Seasons in Base: 24
Time of day: 12:01pm
Other factors: 1st WS BASE jump in Moab
Exit Altitude: 160m/524ft Vertical - 460m/1510ft overall
Conditions: Beautiful, light wind, warm rising air, sunny all day. -2C at start of hike approx. 10C at exit time
Wind on exit: 5kts from the jumpers left
Description:
Jimmy called me up about a week ago. He asked me if I’ve been doing any wingsuiting in Moab. I told him yes, a bit. He said he was ready to make his first wingsuit BASE jump in Moab. He said he was current and ready. He had just returned from a WS (wingsuit) skydiving trip in AZ and a fall season spent jumping in Switzerland.
We talked about all the potential exit points available in the region. We selected Super Gorgeous, based on the vertical height of the cliff, the start arc, and the direction of the cliff face relative to the winter sun. We had planned to go out on Saturday initially, but the weather forecast didn’t look good. We discussed how important it is to have ideal conditions when making a jump of this type. The forecast for Thursday and Friday looked fantastic, so we changed our plans to ju mp Friday instead.
We touched base Thursday evening to confirm our plans, review the forecasted wind, sun, and high/low temperatures for the day. Everything lined up beautifully. Just below freezing in the early am, warm sunny winter day with light and variable winds till noon. There was a slight possibility of stronger winds on the forecast for later in the day, which did not occur. The winds were less than 5kts all day. Warm sun directly on the talus and cliff face all morning and throughout the day. We planned to allow three hours to hike and gear up. Jumping around 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
We met at Rocky Rapids at 8 AM and launched our SUPs by 8:30. We reviewed the exit point and potential flight lines from the bottom and began our hike. Midway through the hike, we noted an inversion layer and made a point to stay observant of the conditions. As we gained altitude and time passed, the inversion layer lifted, and the conditions changed to thermic.
We arrived at the exit point at 11:11 AM. Conditions appeared ideal: rising air with a light breeze from jumpers left to right. We once again reviewed all the relative elements involved in the jump. We established the lines we intended to fly and discussed the critical factors involved. At exactly noon, we hugged told each other, “I LOVE YOU!” and at 12:01, Jimmy pushed off.
His push was good, and the launch looked normal. One second into the start, Jimmy appeared to be slightly right shoulder low, potentially compensating for heading adjustment or possibly the crosswind element. As he got further into the start arc, it was apparent that he was working to maintain his heading down the center of the deepest part of the talus. His forward speed was not quite as high as I would expect during the first four to five seconds , and he was crabbing very slightly from right to left. Approximately six seconds into his fight, he impacted the talus. He did not clear the first ledge and was killed immediately upon impact. He came to rest a little further down the talus.
I immediately dispatched an SOS call from my InReach satellite communication device. Search & Rescue was on the scene as quickly as possible.
My best assessment of the factors contributing to this accident:
1. The jump itself has very little to no margin for error.
2. The suit Jimmy selected may not have given him every possible advantage in the start arc.
3. The slight left to right breeze had some effect on his ability to hold his chosen heading and affected his start arc and forward speed negatively.
4. A more downwind heading would have improved the forward speed in the initial portion of the start arc.
My last point is subjective and speaks towards anyone who may be considered jumps of this type or in this area. These jumps are very clearly, directly into terrain flight immediately after exit. I have not known Jimmy to be a “terrain flyer.” So we discussed this before exiting. I explained to him that in my previous flights from this exit point that the start arc transitions directly to terrain flight and that no matter how I might try, I could not outfly the terrain with any additional altitude beyond what was needed to fly at a minimum. He understood that as he stepped off. Unfortunately, he was not able to outfly the terrain.
My advice for anybody considering jumps of this type or in this area, ensure that your skill set includes an adequate margin for error and a familiarity with the severity and intensity of the flying style required and the circumstances to which we will be subjecting ourselves.
Even all that may not be enough.
Jimmy was one of my very best friends.
He was incredibly dear to me. I’m both utterly tortured and honored to have been with him on his final flight. I will speak towards the depth of his character and our loving friendship later.
Blue Skies Brother - We will miss you.
JayMo
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