Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172L near DeLand, FL — 2024-09-17

Final reportERA24LA384
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Date
2024-09-17
Location
DeLand, FL, USA
Airport
DED
Aircraft
CESSNA 172L
Registration
N19703
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The parachutist’s failure to control his canopy which resulted in a downwind landing, an overshoot of the drop zone, and collision with a departing airplane.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor explained that immediately after the airplane lifted from the runway, a parachutist beneath a fully fully-deployed canopy appeared from above and to the left of the high-winged airplane about 15-20 ft above ground level. The parachutist was aligned to cross the runway from left to right immediately to his front, so he turned right to raise the left wing in hopes of striking the parachute instead of the parachutist. Witnesses described the collision, pieces separating from the airplane, and the parachutist “skidding” across the runway before coming to rest unhurt. The instructor maneuvered the substantially substantially-damaged airplane and landed it successfully with both occupants emerging unhurt. According to the operator of the skydiving activity, the parachutist failed to enter the area surrounding the designated drop zone properly and into the wind, but instead overshot the landing zone in the downwind direction and crossed in front of the departing airplane. In a written statement, the parachutist explained that he was a “student” and that he lacked control of the canopy when he experienced a “sudden change of winds.” He stated that the wind “pushed” him in the direction of the departure runway. The parachutist added that because he was a student in a “highly good” training environment, that he would improve his “skills and experience” with more training.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
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Docket documents7

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