# NTSB CEN24LA197: Cessna U206, N29173, Butler, MO, May 25, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 25, 2024, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Butler, MO - Coordinates: 38.288693, -94.338498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2887&lon=-94.3385&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Uncontrolled descent: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 6 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194327 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194327/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194327 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA197 ## Probable cause The jumper’s unintentional deployment of his emergency parachute and subsequent impact with the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Empennage structure: horizontal stabilizer](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035510): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035510/cases.md?model=2073332), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md?model=2073332), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md?model=2073332), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Uncontrolled descent: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna U206C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md?model=2073332), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a skydiving flight, the first jumper scraped his emergency parachute handle while moving toward the jump door. The jumper’s emergency parachute deployed out of the airplane and subsequently drug him into the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated that he heard a loud “bang” and focused on maintaining control of the airplane. After the remaining jumpers exited the airplane, the nose of the airplane “dropped straight down.” The pilot was able to release his seat restraints, open a cargo door and exit the airplane. The pilot noticed the airplane’s empennage was bent as it spiraled into a field. The pilot opened his emergency parachute and landed safely with the other jumpers. The first jumper sustained serious injuries. The airplane was destroyed when it impacted a field near the departure airport. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the first jumper, his D-ring style emergency parachute handle (Figure 1) was unknowingly caught on something. While he was positioning himself to the aft door, still unaware of the handle being caught, the ripcord was pulled about 4 inches causing the emergency parachute to deploy and subsequently pulled him into the airplane’s empennage. Figure 1. Emergency parachute deployment handle (circled in red) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29173](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29173), registered now, S/N U206-1140, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA U206 (C) - Registry model: [Cessna U206C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206c) (registry code 2073332) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U206-1140 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 15021 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aerial Transport LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: BUM, Butler Meml - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 20, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 9,512 total, 3,028 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KLRY, 19 nm away - METAR: KLRY 251755Z AUTO 12006KT 10SM CLR 25/12 A2987 RMK AO2 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240525005589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240525005589A), May 25, 2024: Cessna U206C, Butler, MO, Destroyed. During a parachute jump run at 14,000FT, the first jumper's reserve parachute was accidentally deployed pulling the jumper out of the aircraft. The jumper… ## Other investigations on N29173 (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 GAA20CA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA072), Nov 10, 2019: Cessna U206 (N29173), Mexico, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly set the parking brake before exiting an operating airplane, which resulted in a runaway airplane and subsequent impact with trees. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194327. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17512009&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20N29173_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17485225&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - first jumper (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17646662&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Burnett%20MOR-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.