What happened
During a charity fundraising event at Hacketstown (EIHN), a tandem parachute jump ended in an accident when a pair of parachutists struck a mechanical digger in a nearby field. The flight, conducted using a Cessna 206, registration G-SKYE, was part of a series of jumps intended for novice participants.
While the initial approach appeared normal, the tandem pair began to drift backward toward electrical power lines. To avoid these cables, the tandem master executed a low-altitude turn. During this maneuver, the pair drifted into a field containing a new construction site. The parachutists collided with the cab of a mechanical digger, causing the window frame to bend and the glass to break. The student, positioned at the front of the harness, sustained more severe injuries than the instructor.
The investigation
Investigators examined the meteorological conditions, the pilot's flight path, and the equipment involved. The investigation established that while the weather was generally clear, wind gusts on the day had the potential to exceed the forward speed of the parachute canopy, which could lead to a negative groundspeed.
Witnesses on the ground noted that the approach looked standard until the tandem pair broke left at a low level. The investigation also reviewed the tandem master's credentials, noting that while the instructor had passed the necessary examinations, the specific rating had not yet been formally endorsed on his license. Additionally, the instructor's medical certificate had expired three weeks prior to the event, though investigators determined this was not a contributing factor to the crash.
Findings
- The approach resulted in an undershoot of the designated drop zone.
- The presence of electrical power transmission cables in the undershoot path forced a low-altitude course correction.
- The tandem master turned into a field containing a previously unnoticed construction site.
- Wind gusts were capable of exceeding the forward velocity of the parachute, contributing to the drift.
- The construction of the new building introduced new hazards to an area that was previously clear.