# NTSB WPR24LA300: Pacific Aerospace 750XL, N902ST, Mulino, OR, August 31, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 31, 2024, 14:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Mulino, OR · 97013
- Coordinates: 45.216556, -122.59019 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2166&lon=-122.5902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 15 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 195086
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA300
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195086/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195086
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA300

## Probable cause

The skydiver’s unintentional parachute deployment and subsequent entanglement with the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer.

## Findings

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

- [Empennage structure: horizontal stabilizer](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035510): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Pacific Aerospace 750XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035510/cases.md?model=05617YD), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035510/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Pacific Aerospace 750XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md?model=05617YD), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Pacific Aerospace 750XL, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05617YD), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the airplane reported that, during a skydiving flight, a skydiver’s parachute deployed early and became entangled with the tail. He felt the airplane pitch up and down violently before the parachute dislodged from the tail. The skydivers exited the airplane successfully and he was able to land the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N902ST](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N902ST), registered now, S/N 153, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PACIFIC AEROSPACE CORP LTD 750XL
- Registry model: [Pacific Aerospace 750XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/pacific-aerospace-750xl) (registry code 05617YD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-34-series) (registry code 52143, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 153
- Year built: 2009
- Engines: P & W PT6A-34 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Skydiving, Part 91
- Operator: True North Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: True North Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 4S9, Portland-Mulino, OR
- Airport: 4S9, Mulino State
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 27, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observed at: KUAO, 8 nm away
- METAR: KUAO 312153Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 34/13 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP126 T03390128

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195086. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17688637&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 598 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18357565&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA300%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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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