The PLF or Parachute Landing Fall - A body position and landing technique used to minimize injury in a rough or "hard" landing situation. The PLF body position: Place your knees and feet together. As you touch down, bend your knees slightly and roll to one side. The PLF distributes the landing shock along feet, calves, thighs, hip and shoulder. If you're a Wuffo (non-skydiver), you might wonder how Nick knew I needed to do a PLF?  I will explain.

Flaring is a simple procedure. When done properly (and also when done improperly), it converts forward speed to lift. So, you come in for your final approach at full speed, wait until you're 6 to 10 feet off the ground, and flare smoothly. The canopy stalls, and you drop to the ground. This works really well if you are only a couple of feet off the ground. In the event you panic and flare too early (and in my case too fast), the canopy stalls. The result: You end up with too much downward speed and not so much forward speed. Your descent rate increases drastically.

Although I couldn't see Nick, he was watching from behind. He could tell that I flared fast and hard at about 25 feet. I had absolutely no idea what my altitude was at the time. My parachute stalled. I could tell I was coming down really fast and I immediately knew that I was going to have a hard landing and I got ready for my PLF. 

My landing was not without pain. His voice came across the radio, "Wave if you're ok." I waved. I was shaking, and my right ankle didn't feel right, but I waved because I wasn't seriously hurt.

When I stood up, I knew I wasn't fine. I began to gather up my canopy. I looked at the wooden stake closest to me. It was about 6 feet away from where I landed. If I was trying, I couldn't have landed closer to it. Had I not panicked, I would have ended up far away from it. I felt so incredibly stupid!

Dennis and Tres drove out to the field to help me. I was cursing up a storm. I've never used that many four letter words in less than five minutes. It was a personal profanity record. They offered to help me into the truck, but I insisted on doing it myself.  I hobbled to the truck, and got in the back. The guys gathered up my gear and drove back to the hangar.

When we were back at the hangar, I got out of the truck and took off my jumpsuit and tennis shoes. Oh my...