Skydiver Collides With Airplane In Mid-Air

WESH.COM ^ | UPDATED: 7:13 pm EDT April 23, 2005 | Staff

[Ichneumon]

Sorry, Advil, but what I understand is that I'm a lot like the skydiver's dog that Robin Williams talked about. "Never skydive with your dog. It's kind of dangerous and it makes the dog scream."

Brutus actually enjoys it. He's made over 100 jumps, and hold the doggie altitude record with a 15,000 foot jump. If his owner tries to leave him behind, Brutus chases the plane down the runway.

[monkey]

That's the first thing I wondered.

The first time I went skydiving (using round chutes), a guy from the group ahead of us landed really hard, on the ground, right near us. And just laid there, prone. An instructor immediately said in a cheery voice, O.K., next group, let's go folks.

[ARCADIA]

were practically simultaneous events If he was hit at 600 feet, it was well after he had left the airplane. It sound like his plane circled back towards the field and hit him.

You would think that people would be clamoring for safer flight policies. The idea of diving within airport approaches, while moving the drop aircraft through the same space, sounds insane.

[Cultural Jihad]

Albert Wing III hit the airplane that he jumped from Saturday morning, police Cmdr. Randel Henderson said. Police said the victim had opened his parachute when he struck the left wing at about 600 feet.

How could he hit the plane that he jumped from? Either the plane made an immediate nose dive after his jump, or the accident happened just as he was jumping out. Leaving a plane at 600 feet doesn't sound like skydiving.

[Cultural Jihad]

It sound like his plane circled back towards the field and hit him.

Then either the plane was making a nose dive, or the jumper was floating in the air.

[vezke]

See #30 and 31

[gorush]

"Skydive DeLand, which organized the jump, said Saturday's accident was not common."

Statistically, the drive to the airport is more dangerous than skydiving, but excrement occurs.

[gorush]

The pilot screwed up...depending on the altitude of the jump (anywhere from 3000' to 15000') the plane may or may not beat the jumpers down...but the pilot can't (shouldn't) help but see deployed canopies, which must be opened around 3000' (depending on license rating of jumper, novices must open by 3000', expert ratings can go lower, but never below 1000')

[GreenHornet]

This is horrible. My prayers are with the family of this man, and those on the plane who witnessed this terrible accident.

[Cultural Jihad]

You could actually land the airplane before some of the jumpers touched down.

That may be possible, but a plane wouldn't be able to land before a falling man touched down. The story stated the chute was opened at 600 feet, so it doesn't make any sense, based on the sketchy report.

[righttackle44]

Brutus is a lot braver than I am.

[Rudder]

Just a flesh wound.
(Monty Python?)

[Dashing Dasher]

I live (and fly) in an area with several skydiving drop sites nearby. It freaks me out all the time when I fly in those areas.

I've never heard of this happening - but have always feared it.

I will continue my vigilance.

[InvisibleChurch]

it seems like something similar happened a few years back