The Boeing B75N1 pilot reported that he briefed the planned jump with the parachutists before departure during a festival in Tampa, Florida, and that the parachutists were supposed to jump after reaching 2,800 feet mean sea level (msl).
About 30 minutes before the jump, the right-wing parachutist requested to depart from the right wing rather than the front seat; the pilot and left-wing parachutist agreed.
The preflight brief did not address whether the parachutists would drift over the crowd at the airfield or not.
During takeoff, the two parachutists were standing on the lower wing to the left and right of the cockpit and gripping the handhold on the upper wing surface. They were not wearing safety harnesses.
The pilot reported that when the airplane was climbing through about 1,000 feet msl, the right-wing parachutist departed the airplane in a “stable and controlled jump posture” but before the planned jump altitude of 2,800 feet.
The pilot entered a left turn, gained visual contact with the parachutist, and saw the parachute canopy open before the parachutist hit the ground and died. The pilot returned to the airpark without further incident.
Forensic toxicology samples taken from the parachutist were negative for drugs, alcohol, and carbon monoxide. It could not be determined why the right wing parachutist departed the airplane before the planned jump altitude or why he delayed opening his parachute canopy, which resulted in his subsequent impact with trees and terrain.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the parachutist’s low altitude departure from the right wing before the planned altitude and his delayed opening of his parachute canopy, which resulted in impact with a tree and then the ground before the parachute fully opened.
NTSB Identification: ERA14LA011
This October 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
John,
I just want you to know that I, and I’m sure others, appreciate all the extra details that you add to these stories. I’m not sure how you get the information you give, but it definitely adds more detail about the events than the original story has. Thanks!
The parachutists were clinging to the side of the aircraft as it took off and climbed. This was a deviation from the original plan of one jumper in the plane at a time. The new plan was made at the suggestion of the deceased. This photo from the Docket shows the two jumpers standing on the wing holding onto the grab handles. http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms/search/document.cfm?docID=403422&docketID=55555&mkey=88255. The Stearman was also a last minute change from the original plan which was to use the jump school C182. The airport manager was flippin’ burgers in the cafe’ because the cook quit, else he would have been supervising the flight line. He wasn’t aware of original jumper plan, nor of the new plan to carry jumpers aloft standing on the wing with no restraints. The dead jumper didn’t coordinate his departure from the plane, but departed 1800′ lower than the planned/briefed altitude. Lotsa ‘last minute’ stuff.