Accident Details
A parachute jump plane sustained substantial damage when it collided with a parachutist during final approach for landing. The pilot lost directional control after the impact, and the airplane struck trees and terrain near the airport.
Pilot and Parachutist Accounts
The pilot reported being on final approach when a parachutist "made a rapid descent and accelerated from behind [his] right wing." The parachutist struck the right wing, causing the airplane to enter an unrecoverable descending right turn that ended in a tree line.
The parachutist stated he "couldn't quite make it to the landing area" because the "spot was a little long," and intended to land in front of the hangar. He reported not hearing or seeing the jump plane. He explained that he had a high-performance canopy and descended quickly over the airfield, crossing the far north edge of the grass runway briefly. He noted that when his canopy leveled out, he was in front of the right wing.
Regulatory Context
The drop zone for experienced parachutists was located north of the turf runway and west of hangar buildings. Jump planes normally used the adjacent turf runway for landing. Advisory Circular 90-66A states that when a drop zone is established, parachutists are expected to land within it, and pilots and parachutists should be aware of the limited flight performance of parachutes and take steps to avoid conflicts.
Helmet-mounted video cameras from the parachutist involved and a second parachutist on the same jump showed both descending through a cloud prior to canopy deployment. Federal regulations prohibit parachute operations "into or through a cloud."