You have to have an understanding of skydiving and general aviation. They work together. Most skydiving happens AT an airport. The idea is the skydivers are taken up and dropped so they return to the airport or a point near it. You can't just stop all air activity around most airports because of some skydiving. At major sites, it's marked on a pilots charts, or if facilities are available, a radio message may be announced on the airports frequency when skydiving oprations are currently happening. It IS the pilots job to know where these areas are, and to steer well clear of the specific area of skydivers. Generally you see the aircraft that takes them up circling over the airport and you know to stay out from under it... but the sky is a big place. I'm sure the pilot didn't want to hit anyone. The tragic part is at 600' the parachute was undoubtedly open, which should have made him more visible. But don't think that just because you have a "big" parachute that you are instantly visible to a pilot. Any number of things from the angle of approach to the skydiver, to the background color or clutter behind him, to the flare of the sun could impede the pilots ability to see him.
It's horrible, and the pilot will have nightmares about this for the rest of his life. Try to feel badly for them both. I'm positive the pilot did not get up this morning thinking "gee, I'll go run over a skydiver today."
As someone who flies in small aircraft frequently, It's one of those horrible things that give you nightmares when you think about it, right up there with the power line you don't see coming. Hitting a single bird can be a very violent and dangerous impact in a small plane... hitting a human is unthinkable.
May God grant mercy and peace to them both.
Your insightful perspective is appreciated.
mc
"You have to have an understanding of skydiving and general aviation."
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."
IIRC, the Otter is a high-wing aircraft. That certainly contributed to the accident.