Aircraft damage and emergency evacuation following mid-air parachute deployment

No fatalities • Chilliwack, Canada • Flight

A single-engine aircraft operating out of Chilliwack Airport suffered structural damage after a skydiver's parachute deployed prematurely, leading to an emergency evacuation of all occupants.

What happened

A local skydiving flight departed from Chilliwack Airport with a total of 11 people on board, consisting of one pilot and 10 skydivers. During the cruise phase of the flight at 13,000 feet, a skydiver positioned on the exterior of the aircraft for a group exit experienced a premature deployment of their pilot chute. This deployment caused the jumper's main parachute to open directly over the aircraft's horizontal stabilizer, which subsequently pulled the jumper away from the plane. The force of the canopy during this event was so significant that it severed the horizontal stabilizer from the aircraft.

Following this structural failure, eight additional jumpers successfully exited the aircraft. As the situation progressed, the pilot attempted to maintain control of the plane, but the final remaining jumper advised the pilot to evacuate. The pilot then exited the aircraft using a pilot emergency parachute. The aircraft entered an inverted dive and crashed into a farmyard. Despite the impact and the destruction of the single-engine airplane, there were 0 fatalities and all 11 individuals involved escaped without injury.

Probable cause

The premature deployment of a skydiver's parachute caused structural damage to the aircraft's horizontal stabilizer, leading to a loss of control and subsequent crash.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1992-07-11 Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) accident near Chilliwack, Canada?

A single-engine aircraft operating out of Chilliwack Airport suffered structural damage after a skydiver's parachute deployed prematurely, leading to an emergency evacuation of all occupants.

Were there any fatalities in the 1992-07-11 Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1992-07-11 involved a Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter), registration N511SA, operated by Shark Air Aviation, at Chilliwack, Canada.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The premature deployment of a skydiver's parachute caused structural damage to the aircraft's horizontal stabilizer, leading to a loss of control and subsequent crash.

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