# NTSB ERA09LA344: Dehavilland DHC-6 Twin, N204EH, Orange, VA, June 13, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2009, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Orange, VA
- Coordinates: 38.247222, -78.045555 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2472&lon=-78.0456&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA344
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74035/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA344

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper decision to perform a low-level maneuver over a populated skydive landing area and his inadequate visual lookout.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2802606), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2802606), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2802606), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2802606), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that after the 20 skydivers left the airplane, he “descended and entered at a 45-degree angle for the downwind leg for landing on runway 08.” Once on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot stated that the “windshield began fogging up.” The pilot decided to make a 360-degree turn to the right while he wiped the window with a rag. The pilot further stated that the last altitude he remembered being at was 2,000 feet mean sea level. Many of the skydivers had landed in a predetermined landing area, which was a field 0.25 nautical miles northwest of the runway. They reported that the airplane was conducting a “low-pass” about 30 feet above the ground when its propeller struck a descending skydiver’s parachute. The skydiver was seriously injured when he fell approximately 20 feet and struck the ground, but the airplane landed without incident. A few of the skydivers stated that the jump was a memorial exercise to release the ashes of a friend that recently died. They added that the airplane's low pass was part of the memorial exercise. The winds recorded at the airport about the time of the accident were calm. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On June 13, 2009, about 1945 eastern daylight time, a Dehavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N204EH, operated by Skydive Factory Inc., impacted a skydiver’s parachute while maneuvering near Orange County Airport (OMH), Orange, Virginia. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured and the airplane was not damaged. The skydiver was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local skydive flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from OMH at 1925. According to the pilot, after the 20 jumpers left the airplane, he “descended and entered at a 45-degree angle for the downwind leg for landing on runway 08.” Once on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot stated that the “windshield began fogging up.” The pilot decided to make a 360-degree turn to the right while he wiped the window with a rag. The pilot further stated that the last altitude he remembered being at was 2,000 feet mean sea level. Many of the skydivers had landed in a predetermined landing area, which was a field 0.25 nautical miles northwest of the runway. They reported that the airplane was conducting a “low-pass” about 30 feet above the ground, when its propeller struck a descending skydiver’s parachute. The skydiver was seriously injured when he fell approximately 20 feet and hit the ground, but the airplane landed without incident. A few of the skydivers stated that the jump was a memorial exercise to release the ashes of a friend that recently died. They added that the airplane's low pass was part of the memorial exercise. The OMH weather recorded at 1943 included calm winds, clear skies, and visibility 10 miles.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N204EH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N204EH), registered now, S/N 61, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-6 TWIN
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61
- Airframe hours: 40624
- Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-60A 1050 horsepower turbo prop; P&W CANADA PT6A-60A 1050 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Skydiving, Part 91
- Operator: Skydive Factory Inc
- Registered owner: Skydive Factory Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 6, 2009
- Departed: OMH, Orange, VA
- Destination: OMH, Orange, VA
- Airport: OMH, Orange Country Airport, runway 08, 3,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 20, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 2,921 total, 1,314 in this make and model, 2,701 as pilot in command, 166 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: OMH

## 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 20090613008749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090613008749A), Jun 13, 2009: Dhav DHC6TWINOTTE, Orange, VA, No damage. (-23) The jump aircraft pilot conducted a low pass over the parachute drop zone while a parachutist was still airborne. The aircraft flew through the drop…

## Other investigations on N204EH (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 ANC86LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA025), Feb 7, 1986: de Havilland DHC-6 (N204EH), Mekoryuk, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74035. 6.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 639 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315797&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Skydiver Drop Zones (item 4, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Skydiver%20Drop%20Zones-Master.PDF
- Weather - KOMH METARs (item 5, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20-%20KOMH%20METARs-Master.PDF
- Photo - Torn Parachute in Feld With Accident Airplane in Background (Provided by Witness) (item 6, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Torn%20Parachute%20in%20Feld%20With%20Accident%20Airplane%20in%20Background%20(Provided%20by%20Witness)-Master.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.

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