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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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November 8, 1997 · De Havilland DHC-6-6 · N1022S

Elberta, AL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 8, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (17 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Location
Elberta, AL
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-6-6
Tail Number
N1022S
Operator
Emerald Coast Skydiving Center
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
MIA98LA031

During the loading of 17 parachutists, a 31-year-old male parachutist notified the loader/jump master that on his next jump he would have a smoke canister on the airplane and that the pilot should be notified. The loader/jump master told him, '...that to notify the pilot would be his (the loader's) job, that he [the parachutist] was just to board the aircraft.' The loader started boarding the jumpers and he went forward to give the pilot the information. The loader/jump master said, '...disregarding [his] the loaders instructions the subject walked from the rear left area and proceeded straight to the cockpit door where the loader and pilot were. In spite of several people hollering at him the subject walked into the left side engine propeller....'

NTSB Probable Cause

a passenger's inadvertent encounter with a rotating propeller.

Full Narrative

On November 8, 1997, about 1315 central standard time, a Dehavilland DHC-6-6, N1022S, registered to Fayard Enterprises Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, local parachute jump flight, was standing with both engines operating when a parachutist boarding the airplane was struck by the left propeller and fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received minor damage. The airline transport pilot and 16 other parachutists were not injured. The flight was originating at the time. According to the FAA, 17 parachutists were boarding the airplane. A 31-year-old male parachutist made an attempt to walk between the left side of the fuselage and the left engine, when he was struck by the left engine propeller. The fatally injured parachutist had made one previous jump in N1022S earlier that day, and according to the FAA, had more then 250 jumps to his credit. The loader/jump master stated, the subject parachutist notified him that on his next jump he would have a smoke canister on the airplane and that the pilot should be notified. The loader/jump master told him, "...that to notify the pilot would be his (the loader's) job, that he [the parachutist] was just to board the aircraft." The loader started boarding the jumpers and he went forward to give the pilot the information. The loader/jump master said, "...disregarding [his] the loaders instructions the subject walked from the rear left area and proceeded straight to the cockpit door where the loader and pilot were. In spite of several people hollering at him the subject walked into the left side engine propeller...."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:15 CST
Nearest AirportHORAK (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDe Havilland DHC-6-6
Tail NumberN1022S
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorEmerald Coast Skydiving Center
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A-20 · Turboprop · 550
Seats12

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (17 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured17
Total18
Crew 1Age 40 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 39 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:58
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data