What happened
On June 23, 1998, a Cessna U206G, registration HB-CQE, was conducting a series of jumps as part of a skydiving tour near Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. While approaching the airfield at approximately 4,000 meters, the crew of six skydivers prepared for a formation exit. The jumpers had positioned themselves in various locations, including the landing gear and the cabin doorway.
During the exit sequence, a skydiver positioned in the doorway experienced an unintentional parachute deployment. As the main parachute began to inflate, it drifted upward and struck the leading edge of the aircraft's right horizontal stabilizer. The force of the impact was so severe that it severed the right stabilizer from the fuselage. The sudden structural failure caused the aircraft to enter a violent left-hand descent. The aircraft subsequently entered a steep, uncontrolled flight path and crashed approximately 100 meters northeast of the Bad Ragaz runway, where it caught fire upon impact.
The investigation
SUST examined the aircraft's maintenance history, which showed the plane had been properly serviced, with the most recent 50-hour inspection completed shortly before the accident. The investigation also reviewed the skydivers' equipment and the physical evidence at the crash site. The fracture zone of the severed stabilizer showed clear signs of high-impact force, with rivets being pulled from the assembly.
Investigators also analyzed the parachute deployment system, specifically the "hand deploy" method used by the skydiver. Experts noted that if a pilot chute is not properly secured in its pocket, the airflow around the aircraft can pull it out prematurely. The investigation also looked into the positioning of the jumpers, noting that the rear-most jumper's upper body extended beyond the trailing edge of the wing, placing them in close proximity to the tail surfaces.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of aircraft control following the structural failure of the tail section.
- This failure was triggered by the premature and unintended opening of a skydiver's parachute while they were in the exit position.
- The skydiver's position in the doorway, with their upper body extending past the wing's trailing edge, made contact with the horizontal stabilizer highly probable during a deployment event.
- The pilot was not wearing a parachute during the operation, which prevented a self-rescue attempt during the aircraft's rapid descent.
Safety action
- It is recommended that pilots conducting skydive operations wear a parachute to increase their chances of survival in the event of an in-flight emergency.