Parachute led to crash, says report

Press, 2 August 1985, Page 22

Parachute led to crash, says report

Wellington A parachute which accidentally opened, led to the crash of a topdressing plane and the death of its pilot, according to an aircraft accident report. The report of the Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, Mr Ron Chippindale, said the accident near Hokitika Aerodrome on October 28 happened as four experienced parachutists were attempting a free-fall descent from a Fletcher plane. As the first parachutist climbed from the cockpit to position himself on the wing, his reserve parachute inadvertently opened and dragged him into the aircraft’s tailplane, the report said. The plane was flying at an altitude of about 1000 metres. The resulting damage to the tailplane caused the pilot, John Douglas Slocombe, aged 32, to lose control of the aircraft, and it crashed. Mr Slocombe, who was wearing a helmet but not a parachute, was killed in the crash. The first parachutist, who recalled hitting his head against the tailplane, was injured but descended safely on his reserve parachute. He was found about 300 m from the crash, wandering in a dazed condition, and was admitted to hospital with head, neck and shoulder injuries. He could not recall other

details of his descent or landing, and his main parachute was still in its container. The three other parachutists baled out and landed successfully. The report said the plane was designed and built primarily for aerial topdressing and spraying. It noted that because of the configuration of the aircraft, three of the parachutists were carried in the hopper, and said this was against the provisions of the flight manual and Civil Aviation requirements. In addition, the pilot had failed to comply with Civil Aviation requirements by not wearing an emergency parachute. The report said that at the time of the accident there was little wind and no turbulence. It said the first parachutist’s ripcord must have caught on the cockpit canopy and withdrawn from its pocket in the harness assembly as the canopy was moved forward. The Civil Aviation Division has laid charges against the company that organised the jump, Southern Sky Supplies, Ltd, and one of its employees. The charges are due to be heard in Christchurch on August 9. The charges allege that the parachute descents “were conducted contrary to the conditions laid down by the director” of Civil Aviation.