Boeing B75N1 N65355

Summary

On 19 October 2013 at about 17:50 local time, a Boeing B75N1 registered N65355 was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and one died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 October 2013 at 17:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Tampa, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Tampa North Aero Park (X39)

Coordinates

28.0178, -82.3417

Aircraft

Boeing B75N1

Registration

N65355

Category

Airplane

Year built

1942

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tampa → Tampa

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA011

1 person died.

The parachutist’s low altitude departure from the right wing before the planned altitude and his delayed opening of his parachute canopy, which resulted in impact with a tree and then the ground before the parachute fully opened.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he briefed the planned jump with the parachutists before departure during a festival and that the parachutists were supposed to jump after reaching 2,800 feet mean sea level (msl). About 30 minutes before the jump, the right-wing parachutist requested to depart from the right wing rather than the front seat; the pilot and left-wing parachutist agreed. The preflight brief did not address whether or not the parachutists would drift over the crowd at the airfield or not. During takeoff, the two parachutists were standing on the lower wing to the left and right of the cockpit and gripping the handhold on the upper wing surface. They were not wearing safety harnesses. The pilot reported that when the airplane was climbing through about 1,000 feet msl, the right-wing parachutist departed the airplane in a "stable and controlled jump posture" but before the planned jump altitude of 2,800 feet. The pilot entered a left turn, gained visual contact with the parachutist, and saw the parachute canopy open before the parachutist impacted the ground. The pilot returned to the airpark without further incident. Forensic toxicology samples taken from the accident parachutist were negative for drugs, alcohol, and carbon monoxide. Examination of the airframe, engine, and parachute systems revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunction or anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. It could not be determined why the right wing parachutist departed the airplane before the planned jump altitude or why he delayed opening his parachute canopy, which resulted in his subsequent impact with trees and terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.