# NTSB MIA96LA135: de Havilland DHC-6, N716NC, Raeford, NC, April 27, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 27, 1996, 17:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place: Raeford, NC
- Coordinates: 34.970844, -79.219253 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9708&lon=-79.2193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 4, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38015
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38015/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA135

## Probable cause

failure of the passenger to follow the instructions of ground personnel as she exited the aircraft.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - engine(s) operating
  - procedures/directives - not followed, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

The flight returned from dropping parachutists, and the pilot left the engines running as the next load of parachutists loaded. A passenger, who had ridden on the previous flight, was instructed by the pilot to exit through the rear door and that ground personnel would direct her. The passenger exited the aircraft and was directed by ground personnel to the rear of the aircraft. The passenger started to the rear and then turned and walked toward the running left engine and propeller. Before ground personnel could stop her, she walked into the path of the left propeller.

## Factual narrative

On April 27, 1996, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a passenger walked into the propeller of N217NC, a Dehavilland DHC- 6 airplane, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 parachute flight by Raeford Aviation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane was not damaged and the passenger was fatally injured. The flight had just landed when the accident occurred.

The pilot stated he had taken the passenger along for the first drop of parachutists. After landing he stopped at the ramp and left the engines running while the next load of parachutists were loaded. He instructed the passenger to exit through the rear door and told her the ground personnel would help her out. He then remained in the pilot's seat and did paper work. The passenger exited the airplane through the rear door and was instructed by ground personnel to walk to the rear of the airplane. She turned suddenly and walked forward and was struck by the left propeller.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N716NC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N716NC), registered now, S/N 110, 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: 110
- Airframe hours: 24107
- Engines: P&W PT6-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Skydiving, Part 91
- Operator: Freefall Express
- Registered owner: Freefall Express
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 23, 1996, 10 hours before
- Departed: 5W4
- Airport: 5W4, Raeford Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,950 total, 35 in this make and model, 2,495 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FAY, 25 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 19960427009109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960427009109A), Apr 27, 1996: Dhav DHC6, Raeford, NC, 1 fatal. Passenger instructed to depart towards tail of idling jumper aircraft. Instead walked forward into idling prop.

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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