Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Waynesville, Ohio 45068
Saturday, July 20, 1991 12:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AS THE JUMPMASTER AND STUDENT JUMPER BACKED INTO THE DOOR OF THE AIRPLANE IN PREPARATION FOR A TANDEM JUMP, HE HAD A UNCOMMANDED DEPLOYMENT OF HIS RESERVE PARACHUTE, THAT DRAGGED THEM OUT THE DOOR. THE JUMPERS WENT UNDER THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WHILE THE CANOPY WENT OVER THE TOP. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE PARACHUTE SHROUD LINES CUT THROUGH THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND DEFORMED THE LEFT ELEVATOR. THE TANDEM JUMPERS FELL FREE, CUT AWAY THE DAMAGED RESERVE PARACHUTE, AND DEPLOYED THE MAIN CANOPY. THE AIRPLANE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE. A WITNESS SAW THE PILOT CHUTE FOR THE RESERVE PARACHUTE DEPLOY AS THE JUMPER BACKED INTO THE DOOR. HE SAID THE PARACHUTE WAS SECURE WHEN HE OBSERVED IT A FEW SECONDS PRIOR TO THE JUMP.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE SHROUD LINES FROM THE PARACHUTE CUTTING THROUGH THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND DEFORMING THE LEFT ELEVATOR AFTER THE JUMPER HAD AN UNCOMMANDED DEPLOYMENT OF HIS RESERVE PARACHUTE AND WAS PULLED FROM THE AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/20/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1235
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WAYNESVILLE
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45068
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 861
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45078
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9HW
NTSB Number NYC91LA183
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model B90
Aircraft Series Identifier B90
Aircraft Serial Number LJ-459
Certified Max Gross Weight 9650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jun 29 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 5610
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FULLER RENTAL AND LEASING
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1057 OPEILKA ROAD
Aircraft Owner City AUBURN
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36830
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WEST TENNESSEE SKYDIVERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 381104
Operator City MEMPHIS
Operator State TN
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code 38183
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1228
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 20 2001 4:09PM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --