Jump plane pilot to be charged with manslaughter for midair w/skydiver

[moxiepilot]

I seem to remember a post here just after this happened. Thought it mentioned a factor was having a fast turn time. Basically after the last jumper is out they descend as fast as they can to get the next load. When I use to jump I recall the plane usually stayed pretty clear of the airport and we avoided the final approach to avoid any conflicts. I'd have to agree that unless the pilot was doing something really stupid it'll probably get thrown out in court.

Might have been one of my posts on the subject. Yes, this is a tradgety. Someone died.

Pilot's do have the responsibility to act in a safe manner i.e., not reckless and careless. As for the NTSB report - it's mostly accurate up until the point the pilot reported downwind for runway 30. In about a year at that particular airport, spending all day there, there was HARDLY EVER a time they adhered to normal operations and pattern entry as explained in the AIM. The radio calls were mostly, "I know you guys are using runway five, so I'll hold short, but landing rwy 12." The landing was usually a steep descending turn - one eighty from above TPA.

I feel bad that someone got hurt and the pilot is being charged, but my opinion is that it is a PUBLIC (and uncontrolled) airport. By that I mean that the airport is not just for use by Skydive Deland, but also that it IS uncontrolled so technically anything goes.

Just like if you kill a pedestrian while driving and talking on the cell phone, so should it be that we are held responsible for our actions. It is only a matter of time that someone gets hurt when you've got get-there-itis.

 

[badco99]

I think the April incident was the one I was thinking of. Didn't realize there was one just the other day.

 

[Naluryder]

I think that he's just pointing out that there is some risk involved.

Nobody wants to accept risk.

Kind of like a surfer - there's a risk of drowning!

Yeah I've almost drowned three times. Its hard sometimes to hold your breath and all the while being held under and tossed around at the same time. Now I'm learning to fly..adding on to my list of risks?? I hpoe to never, almost had a mid air..just fly the plane and look for traffic. On the other hand you have no control over other peoples actions and I think that is when you need luck to be by your side the most.

Nalu

 

[aloft]

Germany or Florida was started by Adam Corolla on the "Love Line" radio show. Its awesome!

LOL, yeah, I guess it was LoveLine where I heard it, not Radio From Hell! Been a while since I listened to either one!

 

[Snow]

ok, let's think about this for a min, the guy was finishing his freefall and was hit by the plane he jumped out of? how bloody fast would the jump plane have to be decending to overtake a person in freefall!?

I've actually seen this aircraft in operation and can say I saw some pretty crazy power off landings.

 

[badco99]

ok, let's think about this for a min, the guy was finishing his freefall and was hit by the plane he jumped out of? how bloody fast would the jump plane have to be decending to overtake a person in freefall!?

I've actually seen this aircraft in operation and can say I saw some pretty crazy power off landings.

Well, you need to remember that even though the freefall lasts about 60 seconds, you can be under canopy for several minutes depending on how high you pull. So there is the potential for some conflicts from time to time. But on the whole the majority of the jumpers are back on the ground before the plane.