On July 4, 1998, a Cessna 182 (registration N7247E) operated by Brian Strong was involved in an aviation accident near Green Sea, SC. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The inadvertent activation of the skydivers pilot chute, pulling him into the horizontal stabilizer/elevator, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A skydiver standing on the strut of an airplane was fatally injured when his pilot parachute opened prematurely, causing entanglement with the tail and impact with the stabilizer. The aircraft landed safely using elevator trim.
Incident Details
According to the FAA, a skydiver was standing on the strut of an airplane while preparing to jump. During this procedure, his pilot parachute opened and became wrapped around the tail section of the aircraft. The skydiver was subsequently pulled from the strut and into the empennage, where he impacted the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator.
Damage and Outcome
The impact resulted in substantial damage to the tail of the airplane. The skydiver sustained fatal injuries. Despite the damage, the pilot was able to land the aircraft using elevator trim without any further incident.
What happened in the 4 Jul 1998 Cessna 182 accident near Green Sea, SC?
A skydiver standing on the strut of an airplane was fatally injured when his pilot parachute opened prematurely, causing entanglement with the tail and impact with the stabilizer. The aircraft landed safely using elevator trim.
Were there any fatalities in the 4 Jul 1998 Cessna 182 accident?
The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 4 Jul 1998 involved a Cessna 182, registration N7247E, operated by Brian Strong, at Green Sea, SC.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The inadvertent activation of the skydivers pilot chute, pulling him into the horizontal stabilizer/elevator, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…