BELEN, NM, USA
N926MA
de Havilland DHC-6
DURING AN ATTEMPTED FREESTYLE JUMP FROM 10,500 FEET MSL, THE PARACHUTIST GRIPPED A BAR IN THE AIRPLANE, THEN SWUNG HIS LEGS OUTSIDE AND LET GO. DURING THIS ATTEMPTED EXIT, THE PARACHUTIST HIT HIS HEAD ON THE DOORWAY FLOOR. THE PARACHUTIST DID NOT TURN 'FACE TO EARTH,' SO ANOTHER PARACHUTIST ATTEMPTED A RESCUE; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO CATCH UP. THE INJURED PARACHUTIST DID NOT DEPLOY HIS PARACHUTE. THE PARACHUTIST HAD ACCUMULATED 70 JUMPS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND HE WAS NOT WEARING A HELMET.
On July 23, 1995, at 1620 mountain daylight time, one parachutist was fatally injured during a parachute drop from a DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N926MA, near Belen, New Mexico. The airplane was not damaged, and the commercial pilot and 16 parachutists were not injured. The airplane was being operated by Coronado Skydiving Center under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to witnesses the parachutist was to execute a freestyle jump from 10,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). The parachutist stated to one witness that he "planned to grip the bar, then swing his legs outside and let go." During this attempted exit the parachutist hit his head on the doorway floor. The parachutist did not turn "face to Earth," so another parachutist attempted a rescue; however, he was unable to catch up. The injured parachutist did not deploy his parachute. The parachutist had accumulated 70 jumps prior to the accident, and he was not wearing a helmet.
THE PARACHUTIST'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES ON EXITING THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR WAS THE PARACHUTIST'S INCAPACITATION DUE TO HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE DOORWAY FLOOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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