# NTSB CHI96LA187: Cessna P206, N2625X, Goshen, IN, May 26, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 1996, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Goshen, IN - Coordinates: 41.569828, -85.829597 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5698&lon=-85.8296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10266 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10266/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA187 ## Probable cause the parachute equipment was not properly maintained by the parachutist. A factor related to the accident was the inadvertent deployment of the parachute. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - misc eqpt/furnishings,parachute/drag chute - deployed inadvertently (contributing factor) - maintenance - inadequate, other person (cause) - object - other ## Analysis During a parachute jump activity one of the two parachutists on the airplane's jump step began a cadence used to jump from the step. According to the jumpmaster the parachutist began an exaggerated rocking motion. During this rocking motion his reserve parachute's ripcord pin protective flap brushed against the airplane's open door. The flap opened and the pilot chute deployed, pulling the reserve parachute from its container. As the parachutists jumped a steering line from the deploying parachute struck the airplane's right horizontal stabilizer. The collision caused the stabilizer to bend downward. The jumper whose parachute prematurely deployed said the velcro on the ripcord pin's protective flap was worn. He said the flap would frequently dislodge. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 1996, at 1400 eastern daylight time (edt), a Cessna P206, N2625X, piloted by a commercially certificated pilot, was substantially damaged when the shroud lines of a parachutist's reserve parachute collided with the airplane's right horizontal stabilizer following an inadvertent deployment. The 14 CFR Part 91 parachute jump flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and 6 passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed Goshen, Indiana, at 1345 edt. According to the jumpmaster, two parachutists were standing on the airplane's jump step. One of the two parachutists began the cadence used to jump from the step. The jumpmaster said the parachutist doing the cadence rocked back and forth in an "exaggerated" manner. During this motion his reserve parachute's ripcord pin protective flap brushed against the airplane's open door. The jumpmaster continued, "...the reserve ripcord was snagged and dislodged from the cloth closing loop resulting in an open reserve container. The reserve pilot chute entered the airflow past the airplane and pulled the reserve from the container." As the parachutists jumped from the step the parachute began to inflate. One of the steering lines struck the right horizontal stabilizer, bending it downward. According to the jumpmaster, the reserve container of the parachutist's whose reserve parachute deployed was loose. He said the pilot chute was "...slightly tilted inside the container." After the accident the jumpmaster spoke with the parachutist whose reserve parachute had opened prematurely. He said the parachutist told him his reserve parachute's ripcord protective flap would come lose quite often. He said this was due to a worn or weak velcro fastener. The pilot said he was not aware of what took place until after the parachutists had jumped. He said he was concentrating on flying the airplane. The outboard half of the right horizontal stabilizer was bent downward about 8 inches. The pilot said the airplane "...displayed no adverse flight characteristics..." after the event. His written statement confirms the jumpmaster's recall of the events. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2625X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2625X-2011-12-19), registration cancelled 2011-12-19, S/N P206-0125, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA P206 - Registry model: [Cessna P206](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p206) (registry code 2073304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P206-0125 - Airframe hours: 4037 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-A1B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles E. Andrews - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 19, 1996, 23 hours before - Departed: GSH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,934 total, 26 in this make and model, 7,766 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 41 °F - Observed at: SBN, 22 nm away ## 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 19960526012289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960526012289A), May 26, 1996: Cessna P206, Goshen, IN, Substantial damage. Jumpers chute opened too early collided with stabilizer. Bent it downward. Landed safely. Jumpers chute defective. (-23) on may 26, 1996, at 1430 central… ## Other investigations on N2625X (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 CHI67D0593](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67D0593), Mar 1, 1967: Cessna 206 (N2625X), Lockport, IL, substantial damage 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.