Tod: Patrick de Gayardan

[Reiner Schischke]

Am Montag früh ist auf Hawaii Patric de Gayardon tödlich verunglückt,
als er mit seiner neuen Wing-Kombi ein modifiziertes System testete.
Dabei hat sich wohl sein Fallschirm mit der in letzter Sekunde
modifizierten Kombi verheddert. Hier ist ein Artikel (unübersetzt) aus
der Newsgroup rec.skydiving. In dieser Gruppe ist zur Zeit eine rege
Diskussion zu diesem Unfall angelaufen.

Skydiver Patric De Gayardon was killed yesterday when his parachute
failed to deploy properly. Adrian Nicholas, a close friend, stays with
De Gayardon's body after the death. Chute fails to work; skydiver killed
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating

Star-Bulletin

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an accident in
which an experienced skydiver died after his parachute failed to
properly open near Dillingham Airfield.
Patric Henry Michael De Gayardon, a part owner of Pacific International
Skydiving Center, died in a plunge from 12,000 feet yesterday. Police
said no foul play is suspected.
De Gayardon, 38, lived in Florida off and on for about the past 20 years
but was a French national, friends said. Guy Banal, also a part-owner of
the Mokuleia skydiving center, said De Gayardon was involved in
"shooting some movie here for future promotion."
He was experimenting with new equipment and testing it. The jump had
"nothing to do with regular business" of the skydiving center, Banal
said.
It appeared the experimental chute failed to deploy properly because of
a malfunction or lack of proper adjustment in the rigging, Banal said.
The Fire Department was called at 11:40 a.m. Fire Capt. Paul Noyes of
Waialua Station said De Gayardon landed in a banana patch within a half
mile of Dillingham Airfield on the Haleiwa side.
Another skydiver was videotaping him, Noyes said. The skydiver
videotaping was right next to De Gayardon during the free fall. They had
to separate
to open the chutes, Noyes said.