What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On October 26, 2024, an ATP pilot operating a Cessna 182 as a parachute jump aircraft completed the 7th load of jumpers. A passenger who was also a parachutist had ridden along to take photos. After the completion of the parachute operation the pilot taxied the aircraft to the hanger and the passenger exited the aircraft standing by the wing strut as the next set of parachuters walked up to load on the aircraft. The passenger ducked under the strut to stand between the strut and the propeller to speak to the parachutist in command. The passenger looking at the camera took a step back into the moving propeller. The propeller struck the passenger. Emergency response was called. The aircraft was moved to make room for the ambulance. The passenger was pronounced deceased at 1536.
As the FAA filed it
ON OCTOBER 26, 2024, AN ATP PILOT OPERATING A CESSNA 182 AS A PARACHUTE JUMP AIRCRAFT COMPLETED THE 7TH LOAD OF JUMPERS. A PASSENGER WHO WAS ALSO A PARACHUTIST HAD RIDDEN ALONG TO TAKE PHOTOS. AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE PARACHUTE OPERATION THE PILOT TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE HANGER AND THE PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT STANDING BY THE WING STRUT AS THE NEXT SET OF PARACHUTERS WALKED UP TO LOAD ON THE AIRCRAFT. THE PASSENGER DUCKED UNDER THE STRUT TO STAND BETWEEN THE STRUT AND THE PROPELLER TO SPEAK TO THE PARACHUTIST IN COMMAND. THE PASSENGER LOOKING AT THE CAMERA TOOK A STEP BACK INTO THE MOVING PROPELLER. THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE PASSENGER. EMERGENCY RESPONSE WAS CALLED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE AMBULANCE. THE PASSENGER WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED AT 1536.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.