B737 Flight Crew reports close encounter with a skydiver at 10000 feet during arrival in the Dallas area. Jump plane pilot had been advised to hold jumpers by ATC.
Synopsis
B737 Flight Crew reports close encounter with a skydiver at 10000 feet during arrival in the Dallas area. Jump plane pilot had been advised to hold jumpers by ATC.
Narrative
We were inbound to Dallas descending out of 11;000 feet for 10;000 assigned. ATC had asked us to fly 300 KIAS or better for following traffic. We had been cleared direct to FINGR when we heard Fort Worth Center advising a parachute jumping aircraft we were inbound and going to under fly him. The jump aircraft acknowledged this and said he would hold the jumpers. We asked ATC if he wanted us to take a vector away as we could see the jump aircraft crossing our path from left to right and now just over 1000 feet above us. ATC gave us a 15-degree right turn and we complied. I just didn't like the way it was looking; despite the jump plane Pilot saying for a second time he was going to hold the jumpers. I began another turn to the right; looking to go from 15 to 25-30 degrees right of our original path to FINGR. As I was rolling out of the turn; the First Officer said; 'Jumper away.' I looked up at the jump aircraft and saw a single jumper out as the jump aircraft began a hard left turn away and down; circling the jumper. I turned our aircraft further to the right; probably another 10 degrees; as we watched the jumper rapidly free fall past our left wing. He was close enough that we could both see his limbs clearly as he dropped past us. My initial estimates were that we missed him by 1000-1500 feet; but after comparing body sizes and distances; I would estimate we missed the skydiver by less than 1000 feet. The jump aircraft appeared to begin a 360-degree descending turn to circle the jumper but stopped his turn after approximately 270 degrees before he turned into our path. We still received a TA Advisory; but it never progressed into an RA. We were handed off to Regional Approach and I asked them for a phone number to discuss the incident. After arriving; I spoke to Fort Worth Center. They had no problems with our handling of the incident and stated they were going to have a conversation with the jump aircraft Pilot.
Second reporter narrative
We were at 11;000' direct to FINGR when ATC alerted us that there was an aircraft doing parachute jumping above us. We gained visual contact with the aircraft; and saw that our paths were converging. ATC gave us a vector 15 degrees to the right; and told the jumper aircraft to hold jumpers. He replied; 'Holding jumpers.'We were in our turn when I saw an object falling from the aircraft in question. I told the Captain and he continued turning to the right to avoid the object. The jumper aircraft at this point began a steep dive with a turn to the left; and we received a TA. He turned approximately 270 degrees to the left; and our TA did not progress into an RA. As we got closer; it became clear that the object in question was; in fact; a person skydiving; as we were able to clearly identify their head; their arms; and their legs. Obviously; our proximity to this person was much too close for comfort.We feel that the Pilot of the jumper aircraft was at fault in this situation. He disregarded the instruction to hold jumpers and made no announcement that jumpers were away.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.