# NTSB LAX95LA032: Beech 65-90, N276VM, San Diego, CA, November 6, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 6, 1994, 14:09 local (22:09 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.550189, -117.040611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5502&lon=-117.0406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 13 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28979/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA032 ## Probable cause the inadvertent and premature deployment of the jumper's reserve parachute as he exited the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - miscellaneous - inadvertent activation, passenger (cause) ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN A SPORT PARACHUTIST COLLIDED WITH THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WHILE EXITING THE AIRCRAFT AT 13,000 FEET MSL. ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM THE PILOTS AND OTHER JUMPERS ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT, THE INJURED JUMPER'S RESERVE PARACHUTE DEPLOYED AS HE EXITED THE DOOR. THE PARACHUTE MOMENTARILY DRAPED OVER THE LEFT LEADING EDGE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, THEN AS THE CANOPY DEPLOYED, THE JUMPER WAS PULLED OVER THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. ## Factual narrative On November 6, 1994, at 1409 Pacific standard time, a Beech 65- 90, N276VM, was damaged when a sport parachutist collided with the horizontal stabilizer while exiting the aircraft at 13,000 feet msl near San Diego, California. The aircraft, owned and operated by Nuway, Inc., of Wilmington, Delaware, was engaged in parachute jump operations under contract to Air Adventures, San Diego, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer skin, spar, and stabilizer attach points. The jumper who collided with the aircraft sustained serious injuries; however, the 2 airline transport pilots and the remaining 11 parachutists on board were not injured. The flight originated at Brown Field, San Diego, California, at 1350 on the day of the accident. According to statements from the pilots and other jumpers on board the aircraft, the injured jumper's reserve parachute deployed as he exited the door. The parachute momentarily draped over the left leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer, then as the canopy deployed, the jumper was pulled over the horizontal. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N276VM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N276VM-2013-07-29), registration cancelled 2013-07-29, S/N LJ-81, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 65-90 - Registry model: [Beech 65-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-90) (registry code 1152904) (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: LJ-81 - Airframe hours: 7819 - Engines: P&W PT6A-20 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Jeffrey L. Obering, doing business as Nuway, Inc. - Registered owner: Nuway, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 27, 1994, 33 hours before - Departed: SDM - Destination: SDM, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,232 total, 510 in this make and model, 2,141 as pilot in command, 174 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19941106037439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941106037439A), Nov 6, 1994: Beech 6590, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. Jumper collided with tail of aircraft on exiting. Chute draped over tail then was pulled off. Damaged empannage. ## Other investigations on N276VM (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 DEN84LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA054), Dec 27, 1983: Beech 65-90 (N276VM), Hayden, CO, 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.