Preliminary Report: Skydiving accident proves fatal

Hawker Beechcraft King Air B90, West Point, Va., Aug. 1, 2009–While engaged in skydiving operations, the King Air suffered substantial damage to its left horizontal stabilizer when it was struck by a skydiver. According to the pilot, a skydiving instructor’s reserve chute accidentally deployed while he was stationed at the cabin door, pulling him from the airplane. The remaining six skydivers then departed the aircraft, which landed safely. The instructor was killed in the accident.