Sports and recreation
BASE jumping
Estimated acute risk associated with a single BASE jump (Buildings, Antennas, Spans, Earth).
Base risk estimate
430 micromorts per jumps
Population-level estimate. Not a personal prediction.
Assumptions
Based on experienced BASE jumpers performing jumps from natural or fixed objects with appropriate equipment; data from 1981–2006.
Limitations
Single historical study covering 1981–2006. Safety practices, equipment, and training have evolved. Wingsuit proximity flying carries substantially higher estimated risk. Rates vary widely by experience level, exit type, and conditions.
Source notes
Westman et al. documented 106 fatal BASE jumping events from 1981–2006 and estimated a fatality rate of approximately 1 per 2,317 jumps (approximately 431 micromorts per jump), based on the Kjerag massif, Norway dataset of 20,850 jumps. This remains the most widely cited peer-reviewed study on BASE jumping fatality rates.
Last reviewed
5/31/2024