Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 20-year-old Private assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a military parachuting mishap 9 September 2020 on Fort Stewart, Georgia, at 1934 local. While conducting a Tactical Combat Equipment Night Jump, the Soldier experienced a complete malfunction (cigarette roll) of a T-11 main parachute during an airborne operation into Galahad drop zone. The Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is leading an investigation into the mishap.

Since FY16, the Army has had an average of one military parachuting fatality per year. This was the second military parachuting fatality of FY20 and the same number of similar mishaps during the same time period last year.

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF

A Staff Sergeant assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, died in a PMV-4 mishap 6 September 2020 in Lakewood, Washington, at 2200 local. The Soldier was driving his vehicle when he struck a light pole. The damage was substantial enough that emergency responders had to use a mechanical extraction device to remove him from the vehicle. The Soldier was transported to the local medical center for surgery and died the following morning. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including seat belt use, speed, and alcohol and drug involvement, are unknown at this time. The mishap is under investigation.
Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 34 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap is the 28th off-duty PMV-4 fatality of FY20 and below the number of similar fatalities during the same time period last year.

Speeding endangers everyone on the road: In 2018, speeding killed 9,378 people. We all know the frustrations of modern life and juggling a busy schedule, but speed limits are put in place to protect all road users.

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF

A Captain assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, died in an off-duty hiking mishap 4 September 2020 in Big Heart Lake, Washington, at 1230 local. The Soldier was hiking with a group of other Soldiers when he slipped on loose rocks and tumbled down a slope, striking several other rocks on the way toward a lake below. He did not resurface. A nearby hiker used a handheld satellite communicator device that allows GPS messaging to emergency services to report the incident. King County search and rescue personnel received the message and launched a team of hikers to investigate the site. Rescue and recovery efforts were hampered by fog, delaying their response until the following day, when they recovered the Soldier's body and made positive identification.

Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of 12 Soldiers a year to off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishaps. This tragedy was the second fatal off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishap of FY20 and below the number of fatalities from this time last year.

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF

A Sergeant assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, died in a government motor vehicle (GMV) mishap 28 August 2020 on the installation at 1934 local. The Soldier was the truck commander in an M1120 HEMTT Load Handling System (LHS) that rear-ended another LHS (Vehicle 2)) during convoy operations. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Soldier's seat belt and personal protective equipment use is unknown at this time. It is suspected that Vehicle 2 had stopped due to a maintenance issue. Dusty conditions were reported at the time of the mishap, resulting in limited visibility and a hazardous driving environment. The USACRC is leading a safety investigation into the mishap.

Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of 12 Soldiers in GMV mishaps per year. This was the 11th GMV mishap of FY20 and below the number of similar mishaps during the same time period last year. Ensure your convoy brief addresses control measures to mitigate hazards identified in your risk assessment, such as vehicle restraint use, speed limits and safe following distances. The Joint Risk Assessment Tool (JRAT) provides numerous potential subtasks, hazards and control measures associated with vehicle operations. Check it out at https://jrat.safety.army.mil.

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF

A Chief Warrant Officer 3 assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, died in a PMV-4 mishap 5 September 2020 in Fairbanks, Alaska, at 0330 local. The Soldier was driving his PMV-4 with a civilian passenger northbound when he struck the curb approximately 1,100 feet from a traffic-light-controlled intersection. The impact launched the vehicle 25 feet before striking the ground and hitting a light standard. The light standard was tossed into the air and landed 540 feet north along the path of the Soldier’s moving vehicle. The vehicle continued for another 500 feet across the road, over a median and down an embankment into a water-filled slough. Another motorist that witnessed the mishap stopped and removed the occupants from the vehicle and began administering CPR on the Soldier. The Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. The civilian passenger was conscious and sustained non-fatal injuries. Alcohol was present, but it’s currently unknown whether it was a contributing factor. The use of seat belt and speed as a factor are also unknown. State troopers are investigating the mishap.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 34 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap is the 27th off-duty PMV-4 fatality of FY20 and is below the number of similar fatalities during the same time period last year.

Here are some important safety tips to follow when operating a vehicle:

- Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Avoid distractions while operating a vehicle.
- Maintain the posted speed limit.
- One of the most common things that may cause you to drift away from the center of your lane is if you’re looking down over the hood of the vehicle, focusing on things that are too close. You want to make sure you’re looking as far up the center of your intended path as you can, which generally means you’re looking at the horizon. What’s right in front of your vehicle (that you can see) is available to your peripheral vision. And your peripheral vision can alert you to a problem. Keep your focus far ahead, and you’ll still see what’s in front of your vehicle.

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF