# NTSB FTW95LA309: de Havilland DHC-6, N926MA, Belen, NM, July 23, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1995, 16:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Belen, NM - Coordinates: 34.650569, -106.76905 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6506&lon=-106.7690&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 17 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19506 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19506/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA309 ## Probable cause THE PARACHUTIST'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES ON EXITING THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR WAS THE PARACHUTIST'S INCAPACITATION DUE TO HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE DOORWAY FLOOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, cruise - procedures/directives - not followed, passenger (cause) - incapacitation, passenger (contributing factor) - misc eqpt/furnishings,parachute/drag chute - not activated ## Analysis DURING AN ATTEMPTED FREESTYLE JUMP FROM 10,500 FEET MSL, THE PARACHUTIST GRIPPED A BAR IN THE AIRPLANE, THEN SWUNG HIS LEGS OUTSIDE AND LET GO. DURING THIS ATTEMPTED EXIT, THE PARACHUTIST HIT HIS HEAD ON THE DOORWAY FLOOR. THE PARACHUTIST DID NOT TURN 'FACE TO EARTH,' SO ANOTHER PARACHUTIST ATTEMPTED A RESCUE; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO CATCH UP. THE INJURED PARACHUTIST DID NOT DEPLOY HIS PARACHUTE. THE PARACHUTIST HAD ACCUMULATED 70 JUMPS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND HE WAS NOT WEARING A HELMET. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1995, at 1620 mountain daylight time, one parachutist was fatally injured during a parachute drop from a DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, N926MA, near Belen, New Mexico. The airplane was not damaged, and the commercial pilot and 16 parachutists were not injured. The airplane was being operated by Coronado Skydiving Center under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to witnesses the parachutist was to execute a freestyle jump from 10,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). The parachutist stated to one witness that he "planned to grip the bar, then swing his legs outside and let go." During this attempted exit the parachutist hit his head on the doorway floor. The parachutist did not turn "face to Earth," so another parachutist attempted a rescue; however, he was unable to catch up. The injured parachutist did not deploy his parachute. The parachutist had accumulated 70 jumps prior to the accident, and he was not wearing a helmet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N926MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N926MA), registered now, S/N 133, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-6 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6 SER 578HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6-ser-578hp) (registry code 61501, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 168 - Engines: P&W PT6-A-27 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Coronado Skydiving Center - Registered owner: Larry Hill - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: E80 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,022 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 7,770 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950723019249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950723019249A), Jul 23, 1995: Dhav DHC6, Belen, NM, 1 fatal. Exiting jumper hit head on doorway floor. Unconcious. Chute not deployed. Rescue tried by other jumper. ## Other investigations on N926MA (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 FTW80IA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80IA003), Oct 4, 1979: Dehailland DHC6 (N926MA), Houston, TX, incident, minor 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.