ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 41441
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| Date: | Sunday 14 April 1996 |
| Time: | 16:15 LT |
| Type: |  Cessna P206C |
| Owner/operator: | Hartwood Aviation, Inc. |
| Registration: | N8682Z |
| MSN: | P206-0482 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4338 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental IO-520-A5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Hartwood, VA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Parachuting |
| Departure airport: | , VA (8W8) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot stated that after climbing to 10,000' msl on a skydiving flight, the occupants began preparations for the fourth and final parachute jump of the day. The first parachutist (skydiver) of three was standing on the right wing strut preparing to jump, when his main parachute (that he had packed himself) deployed inadvertently. He (and/or his parachute) struck the right horizontal stabilizer; subsequently, the stabilizers (empennage) separated from the airplane. The second skydiver stated that he had one foot on the wheel step and the other foot in the door when the first skydiver's main parachute deployed. He stated that the airplane gyrated and that he was pressed against the lower side of the wing, but he was able to free himself. The pilot stated that shortly after the first skydiver had exited the airplane, he (the pilot) felt a 'thud' and the airplane started to react violently. The pilot tried to regain control of the airplane, but was unsuccessful. He stated that he and the third skydiver were slammed around inside the airplane as it continued gyrating. The pilot exited the airplane by pulling himself to the door. The third skydiver did not exit the airplane, and the airplane crashed. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose any preaccident anomalies.
Probable Cause: the inadvertent/premature deployment of the first skydiver's parachute, which resulted in contact with the airplane's horizontal stabilizer by the first skydiver and his parachute, loss of integrity of the empennage to the aft fuselage, loss of aircraft control, and subsequent separation of the empennage. The third skydiver was fatally injured when he failed or was unable to bail out of the uncontrolled airplane.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB IAD96FA061
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 09-Apr-2024 07:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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