Odds of Dying Skydiving

If you’re considering jumping out of an airplane, you’re probably also thinking about the odds of dying skydiving. Skydiving accidents might not be the most fun thing to talk about, but the primal fear that comes with plummeting toward the earth at 120 mph is an unavoidable instinct. Feeling anxious about skydiving is only natural! 

The good news is that the survival rate of skydiving is a lot higher than you probably think. In fact, the chances of dying skydiving vs. in a car accident might surprise you. We know you’re thinking, wait, is skydiving safer than driving?? It is! Most people don’t realize that the odds of being injured or killed while driving, something a majority of people do on a daily basis, are much higher than dying while doing a lot of supposedly dangerous activities. 

And the even better news is that tandem skydiving is the safest way to experience jumping out of an airplane. The number of annual skydiving fatalities is already low, and the number of tandem skydiving deaths per year is a fraction of the statistic. That’s why a tandem skydive is a great way to make your first jump. 

Read on to dig deeper and gain some clarity on exactly what risks are involved with jumping out of an airplane.

Understanding the Odds of Dying Skydiving

A common question people ask is, “Is it rare to die from skydiving?” The easiest way to get to the bottom of that answer is to look at the numbers. Statistics go a long way in explaining trends and understanding inherent risk. 

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) tracks skydiving fatality statistics on an annual basis and publicly reports the results. And their reports show that skydiving has gotten increasingly safer over the years. 

Comparing data in five-year increments from the last 20 years, the number of annual jumps has consistently increased, and the number of fatalities has decreased. 

Year	Skydiving Fatalities in the U.S.	Estimated Annual Jumps	Fatalities Per 100,000 Jumps
2022	20	3.9 million	0.51
2017	24	3.2 million	0.75
2012	19	3.1 million	0.61
2007	18	2.5 million	0.72
2002	33	2.6 million	1.27

Something to keep in mind is that these stats include all types of jumps – so tandem jumps, student jumps, and jumps by licensed skydivers. Many licensed skydivers fly small, aggressive parachutes, and sometimes experienced jumpers – oftentimes highly experienced jumpers – push their limits too far. This results in the majority of deaths occurring within the licensed skydiver community. 

Considering a 10-year average, there is one fatality for every 500,000 tandem jumps annually. Talk about unlikely! At Skydive Perris, in almost 50 years of existence, we never had a death casualty on a tandem jump. 

Skydiving vs. Driving Safety Stats

Driving. We do it every day. It’s a necessity in American life. How else are we going to get to work, to school, to visit family, to the dropzone to skydive?? And if that many people are doing it, it must be safe, right? 
Well, according to the National Safety Council, car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Your chances of dying in a motor vehicle crash are one in 93 (or 1.075% chances). Compare that to the one in 500,000 deaths that happen in tandem skydiving (that’s 0.0002% chances!), and all of a sudden, parachuting into your next destination sounds like a pretty good idea!

Chances of Dying Skydiving Compared to Other Sports

Comparing skydiving to all other sports can be difficult, especially since skydiving is classified as an extreme sport. Of course, it will be more dangerous than something like golf or tennis. 

But skydiving is actually statistically safer than some sports you wouldn’t expect. According to Teton Gravity Research, the odds of dying skydiving are considerably less than dying while SCUBA diving, boxing, canoeing, or even playing football! And some of those activities aren’t even considered extreme. 
Research, training, gear improvements, and the safety culture of skydiving have all evolved over the many decades the sport has been around. Thanks to these improvements, skydiving is one of the safest extreme sports.

The Skydive Perris Safety Record

Skydive Perris takes safety to the next level. Everything from airplane takeoff to parachute landing is covered by rules that are set with safety in mind. Our airplane maintenance, instructor certification, student education, and gear inspections are all integral to the operations at Skydive Perris. 

There’s no part of your skydive that wasn’t planned with safety as the number one priority. Every single jump is thought out and executed to the highest standards of the most experienced instructors. You can rest assured that you’re in good hands the moment you arrive at our dropzone.

Is skydiving worth the risk? We certainly think so! And with all of this information, we hope you do, too – let’s go!!

Related Article: How Safe is Tandem Skydiving

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