Skydive airplane accident

[Bandit60]

Don't know anything other than what I read, so if anyone has anymore information on this please post.

Skydiving plane crashes in DeLand, many aboard injured


JOE CREWS

Oct. 3, 2005
DELAND -- An aircraft carrying 10 skydivers crashed during takeoff this afternoon, injuring at least some of those on board, an official said.

Bob Hallett, president of the jump zone, said he didn’t have any details about why the plane crashed or how serious the injuries were. But reports from witnesses on the scene said 11 people were injured – all the skydivers aboard plus the pilot – and one of them was seriously hurt.

DeLand police spokesman Cmdr. Randy Henderson said the plane got about 50 feet off the ground, then banked and crashed.

The aircraft involved was an 11-passenger Pilatus single-engine turboprop registered to Vertical Air Inc., which is based in DeLand. The company owns three other aircraft.

 

[Hand Commander]

That sucks. That's the same place where, earlier this year, an otter in descent hit a jumper under canopy taking his legs off below the knees and eventually killing him. Glad no one died this time.

 

[moxiepilot]

not too good for skydive deland, no new info as of yet

 

[Flying Illini]

I just caught the tailend of a report on Fox News. The pics showed the aircraft off the side of the runway...pretty banged up. Unfortunately I tuned in at the very end and didn't hear any talk, just saw the video.

 

[awacs941]

http://www.wesh.com/news/5051667/detail.html#

Pics at the site.. I swear thats the second one in about 3-4 months.. Your not going to see me anywhere around that airport!

 

[moxiepilot]

it is the second this year, the last one had fatal consequences

 

[FN FAL]

http://www.wesh.com/news/5051667/detail.html#

Pics at the site.. I swear thats the second one in about 3-4 months.. Your not going to see me anywhere around that airport!

Yea, with 100 hours, I would stay away from any airport that has commercial traffic at it. You might hurt yourself...maybe even your passengers.

 

[Doug Parker]

.


I wonder if he'll get a Violation for being over-gross and out of CG




.

 

[cforst513]

the problem with KDED is that it is SO close to ERAU, epic, and DCA that it is frequently used for training. as long as everyone plays along correctly, everything should be fine. but that doesn't always happen. i think DED is busy enough to warrant a control tower. it's pretty crazy in the pattern, and then toss in there 20 skydivers falling out of the sky, and it is a recipe for disaster. DED is a skydiving Mecca. glad to see no one died, just hope the pilot recovers 100%.

 

[cforst513]

Yea, with 100 hours, I would stay away from any airport that has commercial traffic at it. You might hurt yourself...maybe even your passengers.

what do you mean? i barely have over 100 hours and i fly into airports big and small all the time, from KMCO to KSFB, KDAB, and KTPA to X47, 2J9, and X50. granted, they're not Newark or O'Hare, but they're still busy! as long as you stay ahead of the game, do your homework, and are a proficient pilot, you shouldn't have any problems. i haven't had any, knock on wood.

 

[FN FAL]

what do you mean? i barely have over 100 hours and i fly into airports big and small all the time, from KMCO to KSFB, KDAB, and KTPA to X47, 2J9, and X50. granted, they're not Newark or O'Hare, but they're still busy! as long as you stay ahead of the game, do your homework, and are a proficient pilot, you shouldn't have any problems. i haven't had any, knock on wood.

Not you cforst, that guy that made the comment about not being competant enough to fly into a field that serves commercial flying services. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Believe me, when I'm flying jumpers I'll go way out of my way to get a pilot into or out of the airport if I can, but the other pilot's help goes a long way.

 

[BushwickBill]

http://www.wesh.com/news/5051667/detail.html#

Pics at the site.. I swear thats the second one in about 3-4 months.. Your not going to see me anywhere around that airport!

Thel left wing got all wrapped up like a tuna can. Ground loop?

 

[FN FAL]

Thel left wing got all wrapped up like a tuna can. Ground loop?

Considering the news article said there was a sputtering sound after the aircraft lifted off, I'm assuming low turn back to the field after engine failure or fuel exhaustion.

 

[moxiepilot]

Considering the news article said there was a sputtering sound after the aircraft lifted off, I'm assuming low turn back to the field after engine failure or fuel exhaustion.

I'm curious how this "sputtering sound" will come into play. That particular pilatus is hooked up with a PT6A, which as you know is a three stage axial, single stage centrifugal compressor driven by a single stage reaction turbine.

IMO recips sputter, turbines whine so now I just wait for the NTSB prelim because evidentally the media is doing their typical reporting on sensationalism rather than actually gathering facts

 

[FN FAL]

I'm curious how this "sputtering sound" will come into play. That particular pilatus is hooked up with a PT6A, which as you know is a three stage axial, single stage centrifugal compressor driven by a single stage reaction turbine.

IMO recips sputter, turbines whine so now I just wait for the NTSB prelim because evidentally the media is doing their typical reporting on sensationalism rather than actually gathering facts

So you're saying someone swaped out the PT-6 with a piston engine and now there is a big government conspiracy?

 

[rvsm410]

Over here on the east coast, (DUNN Airpark) I witness the jump school planes going through the cloud many times, through cloud layers and then see jumpers dropped through the clouds....this area is close to V-3 and we have alot of passing traffic, I have seen what looks to be close calls between jumper and these aircraft...I rarely hear any radio com from the jump plane....Also it seems to be a game to beat the jumpers back to the runway as the Caravan or King Air makes very steep spirling decents over the city...I can't help but notice them and wonder how long its to be before the wings come off one.....I doubt they are filing an IFR flight plan, and also wonder how long it will be before we have "Deland" type accident over here.

 

[moxiepilot]

So you're saying someone swaped out the PT-6 with a piston engine and now there is a big government conspiracy?

Yes, exactly.

My point was that the media never gets anything straight. How does a free turbine sputter? What really caused the accident?

I just get irritated with the media, they rarely do anything productive for society.

 

[cforst513]

Over here on the east coast, (DUNN Airpark) I witness the jump school planes going through the cloud many times, through cloud layers and then see jumpers dropped through the clouds....this area is close to V-3 and we have alot of passing traffic, I have seen what looks to be close calls between jumper and these aircraft...I rarely hear any radio com from the jump plane....Also it seems to be a game to beat the jumpers back to the runway as the Caravan or King Air makes very steep spirling decents over the city...I can't help but notice them and wonder how long its to be before the wings come off one.....I doubt they are filing an IFR flight plan, and also wonder how long it will be before we have "Deland" type accident over here.

i have noticed the same thing. in fact, when i was working on my private, i went from DAB to MLB for a solo X-C on V-3 and on the way back up 4 parachutes popped out of the clouds a few miles ahead of me. i immediately turned about 90 degrees left and went westbound, paying close attention to dunn. it too is an uncontrolled airport. dangerous. i was talking to ATC with VFR flight following, and i didn't hear a peep. i told ATC and also then monitored the CTAF freq for dunn to make sure no other jumpers were gonna show up unexpectedly 2 miles in front of me.

Funny story, though: when i was training for my instrument, i was getting ready to intercept the ILS at MLB. the female air traffic controller warned me about "multiple targets in the area". my reply? "uh, yes ma'am, i'll be keeping an eye out for skydivers". my instructor immediately died laughing and the ATC gal got back on, chuckling, and said "well. N9XXXX, there are no skydivers in the area, but keep looking! thanks for your help!" i guess i shouldn't think of skydivers as targets, eh?

 

[cforst513]

A few more incidents at Deland:
http://www.wesh.com/news/4052743/detail.html
http://www.wesh.com/news/2788562/detail.html
http://www.wesh.com/news/1388498/detail.html

 

[FN FAL]

My point was that the media never gets anything straight. How does a free turbine sputter?

Fuel interuption or contamination would be my guess. The sputtering would occur because you take off with "ignition" on. Introduce enough air bubbles or contamination in the fuel supply and you'll get intermittant popping and surging, which the dictionary describes as "sputter".

Main Entry: 1sput·ter
Pronunciation: 'sp&-t&r
Function: verb
Etymology: akin to Dutch sputteren to sputter
transitive senses
1 : to spit or squirt from the mouth with explosive sounds
2 : to utter hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement
3 : to dislodge (atoms) from the surface of a material by collision with high energy particles; also : to deposit (a metallic film) by such a process
intransitive senses
1 : to spit or squirt particles of food or saliva noisily from the mouth
2 : to speak explosively or confusedly in anger or excitement
3 : to make explosive popping sounds
- sput·ter·er noun