Lodi, CA, USA
N205TC
Beech 99
A skydiver jumped up and out of the airplane instead of dropping out of the exit and keeping a low trajectory. He then impacted the horizontal stabilizer and fell away from the leading edge. The skydiver's automatic deployment system activated and opened the parachute. The skydiver was warned by other skydivers the day before when he exited in a similar manner. In addition, he was instructed to stay low and not to jump up just prior to exiting the airplane.
On August 22, 2006, at 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 99 airplane, N205TC, was substantially damaged when a skydiver impacted the horizontal stabilizer during a skydiving jump near Lodi, California. The pilot and 12 other skydivers were not injured; the skydiver that impacted the horizontal stabilizer sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated by Parachute Center. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 skydiving flight. The local flight originated from the Lodi Airport at an unknown time. According to statements from the operator and three other skydivers, the skydiver jumped up when he exited the airplane exposing himself to the propeller blast, which drove him aft to the horizontal stabilizer. He hit the horizontal stabilizer and then fell from the leading edge. The skydiver was equipped with an emergency parachute deployment system, which opened his canopy. According to the statements provided by the other skydivers, the accident skydiver jumped up in a similar manner the day before the accident flight. He was warned not to jump up when he exited the airplane as he barely missed the horizontal stabilizer the day before. In addition, the skydivers were instructed to stay low and not to jump out of the door just moments before the accident skydiver jumped out. The skydiver had accumulated about 200 jumps, most of which were out of the accident airplane.
the failure of the skydiver to correctly follow procedures and directives on exiting the airplane properly, which resulted in his collision with the horizontal stabilizer.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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