Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!uhura.cc.rochester.edu!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!bb1v+ From: bb1v+@andrew.cmu.edu (Barry Lowell Brumitt) Newsgroups: rec.skydiving Subject: Near Accident... Message-ID: <8bt3JYm00V86NdvX4E@andrew.cmu.edu> Date: 18 Mar 91 03:35:00 GMT Organization: Class of '91, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 79 Yesterday, I was witness to what very easily could have been a plane crash and 4 fatalities. We were climbing out of a Cessna (185, I think) to do a 4-way from 9500. Person 1 had one foot on the step, the other dangling. Person 2 was to sit in the crotch between the strut and the body of the plane. I was third out, to be on the step. As I was climbing out (hands on the door frame, leaning out, I saw a flash of movement, and looking down I saw a pilot chute attached to a bunch of lines, all of which were looped around the step AND the strut. Person 2, as far as I could tell was gone. Meanwhile, Person 1 was frantically trying to get the lines wrapped around his foot (and the step) free. (He has over 2500 jumps) I screamed at him, something incoherent about getting the hell out of here, and about then he got free and left. I immediately jumped, pushing myself far enough out to clear the tangles around the step and strut. After watching plane between my legs as I dove down, I saw no one else exit. I watched Person 2 come down under his reserve (round, Phantom, he opened it at about 2000. He has in the neighborhood of 1500 jumps). The plane landed. I expected the tangled main would open, and the whole mess would plummet to the ground. There was *no way* I was staying in the plane. The pilot (2 jumps) had stopped person 4 (1000+ jumps) from leaving, and they had managed to get the lines, the pilot chute and the bag inside the plane, and land uneventfully. Only one locking loop kept the main from deploying: this would have spelled rather certain disaster, had it openned. --- Talking to Person 2 afterward, it was decided that he must have brushed against the side of the plane, releasing his pin, and letting the bag drop out of the container. He said that he immediately let go, and when he was stuck hanging, cut away. Amazing reflexes, as I was following him out, and I didn't see more than a flash. --- This whole incident brings up a few points. 1) If Person 2 had an RSL there is a good chance his reserve would have deployed into the mess on the plane. 2) Things go wrong *so fast*. You blink and you miss the entire thing. 3) If Person 4 had followed me out, the pilot might not have been able to save the plane. I suspect much more turbulence would have opened up the main bag. Discussion is welcome. If I haven't explained things completely, feel free to ask for elaboration. --- The moral of the story is simple. When climbing out, make sure you aren't rubbing against anything if at all possible. Don't just concern yourself with the pilot chute, be aware of the bridle which may run along the outside of your container. --- Caveat: The main, bag, etc were recovered without having to cut them. I can't believe it didn't either deploy or have to be cut away. --- Barry Brumitt A-12269 (36 jumps) Oh, For those that responded, I'm not moving out to Stanford after all, I'll be here in Pittsburgh for the next 5 years, getting a PhD in Robotics.