What happened
During a series of parachute jumping operations, a US Army Pilatus UV-20A and a Cessna 182C were involved in a midair collision. Both aircraft had been performing multiple jumps prior to the incident. The Pilatus had departed runway 12 approximately five minutes before the Cessna. As the Pilatus climbed toward a target altitude of 5,500 feet msl, the pilot initiated a jump run on a heading of roughly 300 degrees.
The Cessna, carrying four jumpers, performed a wide right turn around the airport to prepare for its jump. At the time of the collision, the Cessna was positioned west of the Pilatus and at an altitude more than 1,000 feet lower than the military aircraft. The Cessna pilot was executing a turn to a heading of 120 degrees along the approach end of runway 12. During this maneuver, the Pilatus was observed in a descending turn on the northeast side of the runway, heading in a direction generally opposite to the Cessna's downwind leg.
An impact occurred that caused a loud noise and a visible gash in the upper left cabin area of the Cessna near the wing root. The pilot of the Cessna reported feeling an impact to his head and noted a blur of color outside the left window. Following the collision, the Cessna pilot successfully landed the aircraft. Simultaneously, witnesses on the ground observed the Pilatus UV-20A entering a nearly vertical, nose-down slow spiral. Debris from the Pilatus, including a green lens and gold fitting, was found inside the Cessna.
Findings
- The collision occurred while the aircraft were operating in the vicinity of the drop zone.
- The Pilatus was in a descending turn on a heading opposite to the Cessna's flight path at the moment of impact.