Incident Overview
On September 13, 2014, at approximately 16:40 local time, a Cessna U206F registered as F-GGVC crashed near the Tarbes Laloubère aerodrome in France. The aircraft was operated by a parachute club for a jump drop mission. The pilot and three parachutists were on board during the final phase of the operation; two other parachutists had already exited at 1,000 meters. The accident resulted in the death of the pilot and the destruction of the aircraft.
Sequence of Events
During the preparation for the jump drop at 3,000 meters, two parachutists positioned themselves at the aircraft door for a relative flight jump. While maneuvering into position, the reserve parachute canopy of one individual deployed accidentally. The deploying canopy interfered with the horizontal stabilizer, tearing off a portion of it and severely damaging the rear fuselage. The second parachutist exited the aircraft, but the pilot lost control as the plane rolled onto its back. The tail assembly broke away, remaining attached only by control cables. The final parachutist was ejected from the aircraft. The Cessna spiraled downward on its back and impacted the ground. The pilot was unable to evacuate and perished in the crash, while all three parachutists landed safely.
Aircraft and Equipment Details
The Cessna U206F was authorized for parachute drops by the DGAC. All passenger seats were removed, requiring jumpers to sit on the cabin floor. The aircraft featured a soft curtain door on the right side, which was rolled up during jumps. The pilot’s door lacked an emergency release mechanism. The involved parachute was a Vectra 41-2 owned by the school, last inspected in February 2014. Examination revealed a crease in the transparent window of the reserve container flap, which altered its rigidity and retention in the slot, potentially contributing to the accidental deployment.