Plane collides with parachuter
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USMCmech
Well-Known Member
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Posted 4/23/2005 4:02:00 PM
Skydiving Accident
Skydiver Loses Legs to Plane in Freak DeLand Accident
There was a freak accident in the skies over Volusia County today.
A plane collided with a parachuter in mid-air this morning near the DeLand airport.
Police say that Albert Wing III, 50, was parachuting about 600 feet above ground and preparing to land when the very plane he had just jumped out of clipped him with a wing.
Commander Randel Henserdon of DeLand police told News 13, "From what witnesses are saying, at about 600 feet the airplane and the skydiver just seemed to cross paths for some reason."
Both of his legs were severed at the knees, but he still landed and was conscious.
He's was rushed to Halifax Regional Medical Center, where he remains in stable condition.
Wea re told that both Wing and William Buchmann, who was piloting the plane, are very experienced in the sport and well known at SkyDive DeLand. Police say Buchmann has been flying for 40 years.
Staff at SkyDive DeLand remain stunned, saying safety is what they're known for.
Mike Johnston of SkyDive DeLand said, "That's one of the major focuses of Skydive DeLand, and the whole skydiving community in DeLand."
FAA is investigating in incident.
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I read that the guy died later today.
Be carefull around Dropzones. Jumpers can be very hard to spot. They shouldn't be over the aproach zones , but sometimes they drift out of their landing areas.
Posted 4/23/2005 4:02:00 PM
Skydiving Accident
Skydiver Loses Legs to Plane in Freak DeLand Accident
There was a freak accident in the skies over Volusia County today.
A plane collided with a parachuter in mid-air this morning near the DeLand airport.
Police say that Albert Wing III, 50, was parachuting about 600 feet above ground and preparing to land when the very plane he had just jumped out of clipped him with a wing.
Commander Randel Henserdon of DeLand police told News 13, "From what witnesses are saying, at about 600 feet the airplane and the skydiver just seemed to cross paths for some reason."
Both of his legs were severed at the knees, but he still landed and was conscious.
He's was rushed to Halifax Regional Medical Center, where he remains in stable condition.
Wea re told that both Wing and William Buchmann, who was piloting the plane, are very experienced in the sport and well known at SkyDive DeLand. Police say Buchmann has been flying for 40 years.
Staff at SkyDive DeLand remain stunned, saying safety is what they're known for.
Mike Johnston of SkyDive DeLand said, "That's one of the major focuses of Skydive DeLand, and the whole skydiving community in DeLand."
FAA is investigating in incident.
[/ QUOTE ]
I read that the guy died later today.
Be carefull around Dropzones. Jumpers can be very hard to spot. They shouldn't be over the aproach zones , but sometimes they drift out of their landing areas.
FlyingNole
New Member
If the guy was landing within the designated drop zone wouldn't the pilot be at fault?
moxiepilot
Well-Known Member
Yeah, he died around 15:00. Very sad, but no uncommon at DED. There have been 4 deaths in the past 6 months there, not to mention all the injuries.
It's busy airspace for an uncontrolled field with almost 100,000 jumps a year, a few training academys near by and a lot of student pilots.
The pilot knew the deceased, Wing. Tough all around.
It's busy airspace for an uncontrolled field with almost 100,000 jumps a year, a few training academys near by and a lot of student pilots.
The pilot knew the deceased, Wing. Tough all around.
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
Ditto above. Skydive DeLand has dropped a couple of people in the past. They're under pressure to get the divers in the air quickly, and I think that's why the plane tries to race the divers down. I've transitioned through there coming back to ORL from the coast a couple of times. I think I have pics my wife took out the window of divers as we were flying past (well clear of the DZ, mind you). Tragic for all those involved.
eeg
New Member
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I saw that plane yesterday.. They always drop from about 13000 feet then the plane lands before the skydivers reach the ground.Kinda dangerous if you ask my opinion.
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That's the reason we stayed at altitude or above the last jumper while doing paradrops. We always had the jumpers in sight well below us...
I saw that plane yesterday.. They always drop from about 13000 feet then the plane lands before the skydivers reach the ground.Kinda dangerous if you ask my opinion.
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That's the reason we stayed at altitude or above the last jumper while doing paradrops. We always had the jumpers in sight well below us...
av8trxx
Well-Known Member
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Be carefull around Dropzones. Jumpers can be very hard to spot. They shouldn't be over the approach zones , but sometimes they drift out of their landing areas.
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If I only had a buck for every time some wingnut flew through my DZ right before a jump. It's amazing how unaware (stupid?) some pilots are! That little parachute symbol on the sectional that is supposed to be in your a/c means something....
Be carefull around Dropzones. Jumpers can be very hard to spot. They shouldn't be over the approach zones , but sometimes they drift out of their landing areas.
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If I only had a buck for every time some wingnut flew through my DZ right before a jump. It's amazing how unaware (stupid?) some pilots are! That little parachute symbol on the sectional that is supposed to be in your a/c means something....
cessna2351
Well-Known Member
I've had to maneuver around skydivers both at Deland and in Grove City, PA. Homes to two of the biggest skydiving outfits in the country. In Grove City the jumper's pilot had to help me coordinate when to take off because every time I looked down the far end of the runway there were a bunch of people touching down in the grass. It was weird to take off and literally see a person about 5,000 in front of you floating in the air. I'll never forget that
.
EatSleepFly
Well-Known Member
I did all of my jump training and most of my jumps at DeLand. Sorta knew the guy, but not real well. Sucks.
BSBD
BSBD
FlyingNole
New Member
Why were you taking off when people were jumping? Didnt the pilot make the call "jumpers away!" ??
av8trxx
Well-Known Member
Taking off during skydive ops was perfectly normal for my DZ. It was on an airport with active flight training ops going on in a right hand pattern to the north of rwy 24-6, while the DZ was to the southeast.
The small dirt landing area was east of the hangars, north of the main road and south of the runway & parking tees in this pic- OKB
The small dirt landing area was east of the hangars, north of the main road and south of the runway & parking tees in this pic- OKB
Digging thru some old logbooks, we'd practice visual approaches down in Hollister, CA and it was a pretty busy skydiving area. We'd get flight following out of the south SF-Bay area and would get traffic alerts about "elevator" flights, but wouldn't think a whole lot about it.
But to whack a skydiver, geez, that's got to suck! Luckily, at least on the survivors behalf, it didn't render the aircraft unflyable so at least someone survived.
But to whack a skydiver, geez, that's got to suck! Luckily, at least on the survivors behalf, it didn't render the aircraft unflyable so at least someone survived.
av8trxx
Well-Known Member
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...Luckily, at least on the survivors behalf, it didn't render the aircraft unflyable so at least someone survived.
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Mmmm...not like this accident where the jumper survived and the plane crashed.
...Luckily, at least on the survivors behalf, it didn't render the aircraft unflyable so at least someone survived.
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Mmmm...not like this accident where the jumper survived and the plane crashed.