# Accident 19980704036329A: Cessna 182B, Green Sea, SC, July 4, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 1998, 16:51 local time
- Place: Green Sea, SC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Parachute Jumping
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1597° N, 78.9704° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1597&lon=-78.9704&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7247E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7247E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182B (registry code 2072706, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182B
- Reported engine: CONT O470L
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,040 total, 500 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL98LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA092) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980704036329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE SKYDIVER WAS STANDING ON THE STRUT PREPARING TO JUMP WHEN HIS PILOT PARACHUTE OPENED AND WRAPPED AROUND THE TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRPLANE. THE SKYDIVER WAS PULLED FROM THE STRUT AND INTO THE EMPENNAGE SECTION.  HE IMPACTED THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL.  THE SKYDIVER WAS FATALLY INJURED.  THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED, USING THE ELEVATOR TRIM, WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.(-23) AT 10,000 FEET, WHILE STANDING ON THE JUMP STEP OF CESSNA N7247E, PARACHUTIST BENJAMIN LUNN EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT DEPLOYMENT OF HIS RESERVE PARACHUTE. MR. LUNN WAS PULLED FROM THE JUMP STEP AND STRUCK THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER OF N7247E, SEVERELY DAMAGING THE STABILIZER AND JAMMING THE ELEVATOR. MR. LUNN'S PARACHUTE WAS DAMAGED, AND HE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL TO THE GROUND AND SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES. AT THE MOMENT THE JUMPER HIT THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SAFE AIRSPEED, THE PILOT, SILKE EYLES, HAD TO USE THE TRIM TO TRIM THE PLANE FULLY NOSE DOWN. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE CONTROL, AND WITH OPERATING RUDDER AND AILERONS, WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT SUCCESSFULLY AT GREEN SEA AIRPORT, SC.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL98LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA092), Jul 4, 1998: Cessna 182 (N7247E), Green Sea, SC, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The inadvertent activation of the skydivers pilot chute, pulling him into the horizontal stabilizer/elevator, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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