Accident Overview
A skydive flight ended in a collision with terrain after the airplane executed an extremely steep climb for several hundred feet, immediately followed by an equally steep descent. The aircraft had just completed a previous jump flight and was refueled by a different pilot for the accident flight.
Occupant Configuration
The airplane was configured with a single seat on the left side for the pilot and a 2-inch pad with seat belts for up to four skydivers. During the accident flight, one skydiver was kneeling facing forward in the most aft position of the cabin, two were seated facing aft in the middle of the cabin, and one (the survivor) was leaning against a bulkhead in the front right position, facing aft. The survivor was secured by a lap belt and reported that the other jumpers were also strapped in. He noted that his harness moved him away from the instrument panel, but his head was level with the pilot's thighs.
Pre-Flight and Takeoff
The pilot did not perform a run-up and taxied directly onto the runway for takeoff. The before-start and before-takeoff checklists instructed the pilot to verify that the adjustable stabilizer control wheel was in the "takeoff range." The aircraft's systems section noted that control wheel forces would be very heavy if the stabilizer was not properly set.
In-Flight Observations
After takeoff, the survivor observed the pilot "furiously working" her right hand from liftoff until ground contact. She was reaching to the right, but it was not determined whether she was rolling something or moving her arm up and down. The pilot maintained her normal sitting position and did not move forward or aft.
Rescue and Investigation
One of the first rescuers noted that the fatally injured pilot and the survivor were suspended by their seat belts as the airplane lay inverted; the other occupants had been ejected from the airplane. The seat belt behind the pilot was dangling unbuckled when rescuers arrived. When the Safety Board investigator arrived on scene, all belts were observed hanging vertically and unbuckled. Post-accident investigation revealed no discrepancies with the airframe, engine, or seat belts.