Incident Overview
On August 16, 2013, at approximately 1730 central daylight time, a Cessna 206 airplane (registration N2070K) sustained minor damage during an inflight event near Brooklyn, Iowa. The commercial pilot was not injured, but the passenger sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was operated by Skydive Iowa Inc. as a positioning flight under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Flight and Passenger Details
The flight departed from Skydive Iowa Airport (09IA) in Brooklyn, Iowa, en route to Grinnell Regional Airport (KGGI) in Grinnell, Iowa, for maintenance. Before departure, a company tandem master informed the pilot that a passenger would accompany him as an observer. Both individuals wore parachutes per company policy. The airplane, used for skydiving, had its right cabin door removed. The passenger boarded, sat behind the pilot, and fastened his seatbelt; the pilot heard the buckle click but did not inspect the belt or provide a passenger briefing.
Parachute Deployment and Aircraft Control
Shortly after departure, the passenger moved from the rear seat to the front seat beside the pilot. During this movement, the reserve parachute in his harness deployed, pulling him out of the aircraft. The pilot heard a loud bang, and the parachute became entangled in the empennage. The airplane pitched up about 50 degrees, banked 80 degrees to the right, and stalled. The parachute eventually separated, and the pilot recovered control between 600 and 700 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot observed the parachute open and, at about 100 feet agl, saw it make a sharp right turn, assuming the passenger was steering it.
Aftermath
Witnesses on the ground saw the parachute canopy circle several times then descend rapidly. A responder found the passenger unconscious and pulseless at the landing site. The Iowa Department of Public Health autopsy attributed death to multiple blunt force injuries. The pilot continued to Grinnell Regional Airport and landed without further incident.
Examination Findings
Post-accident inspection revealed minor damage to the fuselage door frame and horizontal stabilizer skin, with blood on the door frame. Examination showed that the reserve parachute's D-ring (activation handle) was buckled into the seatbelt. The aircraft's operating limitations required a guardrail or equivalent safety device when the door was removed for non-skydiving operations. A roll-up door was available but not installed due to warm weather and a broken fastener. The pilot declined to submit the required NTSB accident report.