Accident Overview
The airplane was substantially damaged after impacting terrain in a residential neighborhood in Taylorville, Illinois. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. Twelve parachutists on board the airplane exited the aircraft and were not injured. No persons on the ground were injured. The airplane was registered to Barron Aviation, LLC of Perry, Missouri, and operated by Barron Aviation Private Flight Services, LLC of Hannibal, Missouri, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a sport parachuting flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from Taylorville Municipal Airport (TAZ) in Taylorville, Illinois, about 1100.
Sequence of Events
The airplane climbed to an altitude of about 11,000 feet mean sea level. The parachutists were seated inside the airplane on two rear-facing "straddle benches." As the airplane arrived at the planned drop location, the parachutists stood up, opened the door, and moved further aft in preparation for their jump. Five of the parachutists were positioned hanging onto the outside of the airplane, with several others standing in the door, and the remainder standing in the cabin forward of the door. Several parachutists reported that they were almost ready to jump when they heard the sounds of the airplane's stall warning system. The airplane then suddenly rolled, and all twelve parachutists quickly exited. Several of those who were last to exit reported that the airplane was inverted or partially inverted as they went out the door. The pilot, seated in the left front cockpit seat, did not exit.
Several witnesses reported seeing the airplane turning and descending in an inverted attitude, when it appeared to briefly recover, but then entered a nearly vertical dive. The airplane impacted a tree and terrain in the back yard of an occupied residence. Emergency personnel who first responded reported a strong smell of gasoline and ordered the evacuation of several nearby homes. There was no post-impact fire.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and use the appropriate flaps setting during sport-parachuting operations, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and a subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow company guidance by allowing more than four passengers in the door area during exit, which shifted the airplane’s center of gravity aft.