Missouri plane crash launched investigation into skydiving industry
The National Transportation Safety Board released a special report Tuesday that identified numerous safety issues with the skydiving industry.
The report was in response to several recent tragedies across the country involving malfunctioning parachutes and poorly maintained planes used to launch the parachutists. One of these incidents was a 2006 plane crash in Sullivan, Mo. that killed six people.
According to the report, while public perception is that the jump is the most dangerous part of skydiving, a large percentage of the accidents were the result of improper plane maintenance, lack of pilot training, and inadequate FAA oversight and surveillance.
Approximately 3 million parachutists fly every year. Since 1980, 172 people have been killed in airplane accidents unassociated with the actual jumping and deploying of the parachute. Parachute malfunction or skydiver error during the jump only accounted for 30 deaths during that same span.
The Sullivan crash that prompted the investigation was also detailed in the report. In that incident, a de Havilland DHC-6-100 plane, operated by Skydive Quantum Leap, crashed shortly after takeoff. The NTSB determined that the probable cause was the pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed after losing power in the right engine.
The Board recommends more safety restraints within skydiving planes as well as more comprehensive pilot training and FAA surveillance. Many of the pilots involved lacked necessary training to spot potential mechanical failures.
All skydivers accept the risk associated with their sport every time the go in the air. This does not mean, however, that skydiving companies are free from all legal obligations to ensure a safe flight and jump. Improper plane maintenance and pilot error are unacceptable and are the leading causes of plane tragedies in Missouri.
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