Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 170B near Mulberry, FL — 2014-03-08

Final reportERA14LA146
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Date
2014-03-08
Location
Mulberry, FL, USA
Airport
X49
Aircraft
CESSNA 170B
Registration
N211R
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The failure of the pilot and the parachutist to see and avoid each other, which resulted in the airplane’s wing colliding with the parachute’s suspension lines.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane was on final approach for runway 32 about 15 feet above the ground when he observed a parachutist "drop down in front of" him. He maneuvered to avoid the parachutist; however, the airplane's right wing collided with the parachute's suspension lines. The airplane crashed nose-first into the ground, and the parachutist was thrown to the ground. The parachutist reported that he was maneuvering to land at the drop zone and was crossing the approach end of runway 32 about 75 feet above the ground when he first observed the airplane "coming at" him. The pilot was a resident of the fly-in community, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport/Facility Directory noted that parachuting operations were conducted in the vicinity of the airport. Although the airplane had been established in the traffic pattern and the parachutist had the opportunity to observe aircraft operations as he descended, it is apparent that the pilot and the parachutist were unaware of each other's presence until just before the collision. FAA Advisory Circular 90-66A, paragraph 9e, states, "Pilots and parachutists should both be aware of the limited flight performance of parachutes and take steps to avoid any potential conflicts between aircraft and parachute operations." Thus, both the pilot and the parachutist were responsible for being aware of each other's presence and avoiding each other.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided landing near parachutists during approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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