Skydiving plane down in Finland

They run in at around 75- 80 knots.

The air has more than enough density at 4000m (13,000 feet) to support the weight of the aircraft and it’s load.

The issue with aircraft used for jumping is keeping increased minimum airspeed in check (when people are holding on from outside) and keeping check on where the weight of all those moving skydivers is going (the jumpers need awareness on this as well). Combine the two (I’ll use a Cessna C208 B as an example) together and it can get out of the pilots control quite easily.

I’m getting off of the topic now as it looks like the main door was closed in this incident. I am a skydiver, so I am trying to use my experiences and understanding to and get some insight across on how skydiving operations work and how we and aircraft interact. :). It has been a bad year for the sport in general world wide :(.

I agree. Here is a tail wheeler version; http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aerocomp-Comp-Air/1005244/M/

What is the speed normally when they jump from C208B ?

The air has more than enough density at 4000m (13,000 feet) to support the weight of the aircraft and it’s load.

The issue with aircraft used for jumping is keeping increased minimum airspeed in check (when people are holding on from outside) and keeping check on where the weight of all those moving skydivers is going (the jumpers need awareness on this as well). Combine the two (I’ll use a Cessna C208 B as an example) together and it can get out of the pilots control quite easily.

I’m getting off of the topic now as it looks like the main door was closed in this incident. I am a skydiver, so I am trying to use my experiences and understanding to and get some insight across on how skydiving operations work and how we and aircraft interact. :). It has been a bad year for the sport in general world wide :(.

Let’s just be careful with what the media says. When skydiving makes the news in a negative fashion here in the UK, it is over sensationalised. Sadly it isn’t a sport known about, or understood, by those out side of it.

The aircraft (that specific model, or the type in general I am not yet sure of) was operated as a ‘jump ship’ for 14 years or so. That is a long time of cycles, people hanging off of the side of it, high speed airflow entering and circulating in the cabin (assuming there is no use of an internal or external wind deflector). That MIGHT give some backing to be overloaded and one bit of fatigue too much. As for points 2 and 3, I don’t share the opinion myself. The human body will perform worse at higher altitude ( up to 15000 feet as an example) than a aircraft wing.

Let’s see what the reports say and what the survives say. Thankfully(?) POV cameras are widely used in the skydiving community, so there is a good chance of internal footage as well. I have huge sympathy for those that have to watch that footage….

BSBD to those unfortunate soles 🙁

Certainly we must be careful. It was only 6 months ago when 11 people died in similar accident with Pilatus PC-6 in Belgium.

LIFT that keep the aircraft airborne is defined as this L = ½xPxV^2xAxCl ….so the altitude ( pressure ) is vital and related to the indicated air speed.

Let’s just be careful with what the media says. When skydiving makes the news in a negative fashion here in the UK, it is over sensationalised. Sadly it isn’t a sport known about, or understood, by those out side of it.

The aircraft (that specific model, or the type in general I am not yet sure of) was operated as a ‘jump ship’ for 14 years or so. That is a long time of cycles, people hanging off of the side of it, high speed airflow entering and circulating in the cabin (assuming there is no use of an internal or external wind deflector). That MIGHT give some backing to be overloaded and one bit of fatigue too much. As for points 2 and 3, I don’t share the opinion myself. The human body will perform worse at higher altitude ( up to 15000 feet as an example) than a aircraft wing.

Let’s see what the reports say and what the survives say. Thankfully(?) POV cameras are widely used in the skydiving community, so there is a good chance of internal footage as well. I have huge sympathy for those that have to watch that footage….

BSBD to those unfortunate soles 🙁

Here is KUDU that goes into a spin; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6tgZVoZc7g

http://www.aircraft.co.za/Encyclopedia/A/266.php

MTOW for Atlas C4M KUDU is 2040 kg.

Earlier variant just 1745 kg; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aermacchi_AL-60

I personally think about 3 following reasons.

1. Overload
2. Thin air
3. Aerodynamics of CA 8

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01816923&great_photos=photographer

A fairly reliable source has it that the engine malfunctioned, the aircraft began to spin shortly after and that the wing separated. It isn’t known yet if the aircraft was on (therefore set up) for run in, or whether the jumpers were starting to get out.

10 Jumpers on board with systems weighing about 10-12 kg apiece, the pilot and enough fuel for a couple of cycles, should all fit within the gross maximum weight (assuming the re-enforcement kits were used).

I have only read that the nose dropped and they called an emergency right after that.

The only door that let people out was the pilot door..pilot and 2 jumpers exited that route.

One of the perished was a decorated young lieutenant who definitely tried to open the main door and save the 2 ladies.

Also I read that some folks were “glued” to the ceiling unable to move while the plane spun down.

A fairly reliable source has it that the engine malfunctioned, the aircraft began to spin shortly after and that the wing separated. It isn’t known yet if the aircraft was on (therefore set up) for run in, or whether the jumpers were starting to get out.

10 Jumpers on board with systems weighing about 10-12 kg apiece, the pilot and enough fuel for a couple of cycles, should all fit within the gross maximum weight (assuming the re-enforcement kits were used).

The Comp Air 8 is an American kit plane with a capacity of SEVEN people according to Wiki. The plane has a door for the pilot on the portside and two doors on the starboard side, so it was easy for the pilot to escape.

Wiki says 8 people….including the pilot.

It also says about the kit feature to carry more load.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comp_Air_8

With full fuel load it still only cuts for 8 adults !

The Comp Air 8 is an American kit plane with a capacity of SEVEN people according to Wiki. The plane has a door for the pilot on the portside and two doors on the starboard side, so it was easy for the pilot to escape.

This looks truly bad.

Left wing snapped.

ASN shows 6 accidents in that type in the last 7 years.

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/dblist.php?AcType=CA8

That is corfirmed.

11 onboard and 8 dead. 3 jumped and one them was the pilot.

Something ( flight surface or something at 4 km ) was seen departing the plane before is nosed down. Some one said it looked stubby ..one of the wings.

http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/201404200163249_uu.shtml

Very sad indeed. Reminds me of the Pilatus accident few years ago.

Most horrifying aviation accident in Finland for decades.

8 who couldn’t ( for reason we don’t know ) jump and remained in the plane were burned beyond recognition.

Aircraft was Comp Air 8 as seen here ( the very plane in question ).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]227542[/ATTACH]

All who jumped are in hospital for treatment, but are not seriously injured.

One was said to have been in very upset/confused/dizzy state as he was found.

Plane has had engine trouble in 2009.

I am sure coming days will clear this incident and give more details what went on.

ASN shows 6 accidents in that type in the last 7 years.

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/dblist.php?AcType=CA8

http://search.aol.com/aol/image?q=Comp+Air+8+aircraft&v_t=client96_searchbox

Very sad news at Easter. Surprised that an experimental aircraft would be allowed to conduct what is potentially a commercial operation?