20190705021809I

Tandem parachute jumps were conducted while flying just north of Casa Grande airport. The flight had two sets of tandem jumpers and their students in the aircraft, climbing to approximately 9500 feet AGL, and exiting the aircraft at separate points on the jump run. The first set of tandem jumpers exited the aircraft normally. The second set began maneuvering inside the aircraft towards the open door in preparation to exit. The second tandem pair sit in the aircraft with their back to the pilot seat while hooked together. To exit they have to slide sideways and then back towards the instrument panel to exit the aircraft face first out the door.

The pilot stated that he recalled the second tandem set sliding towards the door as he was flying jump run when he felt some drag on the tail. He looked over his shoulder to the right and saw some white fabric back toward the tail of the aircraft. At that point the aircraft pitched forward and he turned back to flying the aircraft. He pushed the nose down and added rudder to regain control of the aircraft. He noticed the drag had disappeared and looked back again. He did not see the fabric or the jumpers again.

The student jumper was interviewed and recalled being in the aircraft when the first tandem pair. The 2nd tandem instructor then indicated they were to move to the door. While maneuvering towards the door the student felt a violent yank and heard the instructor yell. Then the next instant the parachute canopy was open and they were descending.

During the descent the student attempted to get a response from the instructor, but got no verbal or movement response from the him. His head was over on the students shoulder and there was a lot of blood flowing down her right side.

The student realized the instructor must be unconscious or dead and began trying to figure out what to do for landing. Having received very little instruction for what to do once the canopy was open she looked around to determine where they were heading.

During the descent the student noticed her shoes were gone, left sock was ripped, and she had a cut on the left heel which was bleeding.

The canopy continued to descend and before landing the student braced for impact. They struck the ground hard and the parachute was drug on the left side. When they stopped moving the student worked her way out of the harness; determined the instructor was still unresponsive; and decided she had to use his shoes to walk out of the desert to find the closest road.

The student walked to the highway and was subsequently transported to the hospital for care. Her injuries included a broken left clavicle, bruised vertebrae & left lung, gash on left heel gash & scrapes on left shoulder and arm.

Shortly afterwards the tandem instructor and parachute were found and the instructor was determined to be deceased.

Findings during the equipment inspection performed by manufacturer?s inspection personnel concluded the following:

The tandem harness/container system, pax harness, and reserve canopy inspected all show signs of age, wear, and usage. Normal to heavy wear is observed on all parts of the system, and the system appears to have been utilized in a normal setting.

No observations or signs of rigging errors were apparent, from parachute rigger/packer or end user/instructor.

Damage and/or unusual wear to equipment included? Heavy damages on harness/container was isolated to left side. Abrasion of reserve canopy suspension lines isolated to right side.

Failure of chest 4-point, damages & abrasions with indications of paint or oil all point to external forces not consistent with damage or wear seen during normal operation of the tandem system.

No evidence was found to indicate that equipment failure or handle dislocation caused the scenario. It is suspected that instructor/passenger movement inside the cabin may have been the primary factor in dislodging the reserve pin while the tandem pair was still in the a/c.