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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 6, 1983 · Cessna 182 · N6351A

Marseilles, IL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 6, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Marseilles, IL
Aircraft
Cessna 182
Tail Number
N6351A
Operator
Prarie Lake Paracenter
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI83FA365

THE ACFT WAS ON A PARACHUTE JUMPING MISSION. AFTER CLIMBING TO 9000 FT MSL, 4 SKY DIVERS JUMPED OUT & THE PLT BEGAN A DESCENT BACK TO THE ARPT. THE ACFT WAS SEEN LEVEL AT APRX 500 FT AGL & IN THE APRX POSITION FOR A DOWNWIND LEG FOR A LEFT PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 36. ABOUT 1/2 MI NORTH OF THE NORMAL TURN POINT FOR THE BASE LEG, THE ACFT BEGAN A STEEP DESCENDING LEFT TURN. WITNESSES DESCRIBED A BANK ANGLE OF 45 TO 75 DEG & A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE OF 20 TO 30 DEG. ONE OF THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE BANK AND DESCENT ANGLES THEN BEGAN TO DECREASE, BUT AT IMPACT, THE NOSE WAS STILL LOW & THE BANK ANGLE WAS ABOUT 20 DEG. OBSERVERS SAW NO INDICATION OF PLT CONTROL MOVEMENT BEFORE IMPACT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF AN INFLT FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. THE PLT'S WIFE SAID THAT ONOCCASIONS, HE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERE HEADACHES, BUT NEVER TO AN ALARMING POINT. SHE REPORTED THAT HE TOOK ONLY ASPRIN FOR THE HEADACHES. PATHOLOGICAL & TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMS REFLECTED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT INCAPACTIATING PROBLEM.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS ON A PARACHUTE JUMPING MISSION. AFTER CLIMBING TO 9000 FT MSL, 4 SKY DIVERS JUMPED OUT & THE PLT BEGAN A DESCENT BACK TO THE ARPT. THE ACFT WAS SEEN LEVEL AT APRX 500 FT AGL & IN THE APRX POSITION FOR A DOWNWIND LEG FOR A LEFT PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 36. ABOUT 1/2 MI NORTH OF THE NORMAL TURN POINT FOR THE BASE LEG, THE ACFT BEGAN A STEEP DESCENDING LEFT TURN. WITNESSES DESCRIBED A BANK ANGLE OF 45 TO 75 DEG & A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE OF 20 TO 30 DEG. ONE OF THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE BANK AND DESCENT ANGLES THEN BEGAN TO DECREASE, BUT AT IMPACT, THE NOSE WAS STILL LOW & THE BANK ANGLE WAS ABOUT 20 DEG. OBSERVERS SAW NO INDICATION OF PLT CONTROL MOVEMENT BEFORE IMPACT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF AN INFLT FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. THE PLT'S WIFE SAID THAT ONOCCASIONS, HE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERE HEADACHES, BUT NEVER TO AN ALARMING POINT. SHE REPORTED THAT HE TOOK ONLY ASPRIN FOR THE HEADACHES. PATHOLOGICAL & TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMS REFLECTED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT INCAPACTIATING PROBLEM.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:15 CDT
Nearest AirportPrarie Lake (0nm N)
Runway36
Runway Length2540 ft
Runway Width120 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182
Tail NumberN6351A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPrarie Lake Paracenter
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-L · Reciprocating · 230
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 6 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data