What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On July 20th 2024 at approximately 11:15 local time a Cessna 208B took off to fly a routine skydive mission. Weather conditions were excellent, VFR conditions. Initial climb up was uneventful. At about 11300” MSL the jumpers were released. Shortly after, confirmed via one of the jumpers videos, the 208B starts rapidly descending towards the ground and impacted about 20 seconds after the last jumper left the aircraft. The aircraft was totally destroyed and burned upon impact. Fire damage was substantial and spred over a large area.
As the FAA filed it
ON JULY 20TH 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:15 LOCAL TIME A CESSNA 208B TOOK OFF TO FLY A ROUTINE SKYDIVE MISSION. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT, VFR CONDITIONS. INITIAL CLIMB UP WAS UNEVENTFUL. AT ABOUT 11300” MSL THE JUMPERS WERE RELEASED. SHORTLY AFTER, CONFIRMED VIA ONE OF THE JUMPERS VIDEOS, THE 208B STARTS RAPIDLY DESCENDING TOWARDS THE GROUND AND IMPACTED ABOUT 20 SECONDS AFTER THE LAST JUMPER LEFT THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND BURNED UPON IMPACT. FIRE DAMAGE WAS SUBSTANTIAL AND SPRED OVER A LARGE AREA.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.