robie@umbc1.umbc.edu (Mr. William Robie; POSI (GRAD)) (05/15/91)
Some time back there was discussion over the incident involving a commuter plane that collided with a jumper. Would someone please re-post the particulars in that case - especially the findings of the FAA?
larry@hpfelg.HP.COM (Larry Chapman X3117) (05/17/91)
> Some time back there was discussion over the incident involving a commuter > plane that collided with a jumper. Would someone please re-post the > particulars in that case - especially the findings of the FAA? The jump plane was climbing to altitude when it was struck from the rear by a commuter aircraft headed to Denver. All passengers in the commuter where killed (around a dozen). The two jumpers in the rear of the jump aircraft were killed. The pilot of the jump aircraft and the other jumpers landed (under canopy) safely. The conditions were VFR. The blame was placed evenly by the FAA. Here's why: * The commuter should have seen the jump plane and avoided it given the VFR conditions. * The jump plane did not have a altitude encoding transponder. The jump pilots always "asked permission" from Denver Center to go to 15,500' MSL (10,500' AGL). On this particular flight (after getting the "ok" hundreds of times in the past) the pilot did not call Denver Center. * The jumpers were not wearing seat belts. -- LSC