Cessna P206C N8682Z

Summary

On 14 April 1996 at about 20:15 local time, a Cessna P206C registered N8682Z, operated by Hartwood Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Hartwood, Virginia, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 April 1996 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Hartwood, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

38.3996, -77.5408

Aircraft

Cessna P206C

Registration

N8682Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hartwood Aviation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Skydiving

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD96FA061

1 person died.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.