| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | November 2, 2013 |
| Summary | Mid-air collision during skydiving formation |
| Site | Superior, Wisconsin, United States 46°41′25.0″N 92°05′40.5″W / 46.690278°N 92.094583°W |
| First aircraft | |
| Type | Cessna 182 Skylane |
| Operator | Skydive Superior |
| Registration | N70520 |
| Flight origin | Richard I. Bong Airport |
| Destination | Richard I. Bong Airport |
| Passengers | 4 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Survivors | 5 (all) |
| Second aircraft | |
| Type | Cessna 185 Skywagon |
| Operator | Skydive Superior |
| Registration | N94059 |
| Flight origin | Richard I. Bong Airport |
| Destination | Richard I. Bong Airport |
| Passengers | 5 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Survivors | 6 (all) |
On November 2, 2013, two skydiving planes, a Cessna 182 Skylane and a Cessna 185 Skywagon, both owned by Skydive Superior, collided in mid-air during a formation skydiving flight over Superior, Wisconsin, United States. 11 people total, four skydivers and a pilot in the lead plane, and five skydivers and a pilot in the trail plane, all survived the collision. The only minor injury sustained was to the pilot in the lead plane.
Background
editSkydive Superior, now Skydive Duluth, was founded in Superior, Wisconsin in 1960 by Chuck Androsky Sr. and Ron Hogan. The family-owned business partnered up with the Richard I. Bong Airport in Superior in 1963.[1]
Accident
editOn the night of the accident, both planes, the Cessna 182 Skylane, the lead plane and the Cessna 185 Skywagon, the trail plane, departed from the airport, flying in a "rectangular pattern" until both planes reached jump altitude of 12,700 feet (3870 m) mean sea level (MSL). The skydivers in the lead plane walked out onto the step preparing to jump out. The trail plane then strikes the top of the lead plane. The fuel tank on the lead plane explodes, causing the plane to go into a downward descent. After the two planes collide, the skydivers on each plane jump out and deploy their parachutes. The pilot of the lead plane is able to jump out of the aircraft and deploy his parachute, while the pilot of the trail plane is able to regain control of the aircraft and land it back at the airport.[2]
Investigation
editThe National Transportation Safety Board determined in their report of the incident that the cause of the crash was due to the pilot of the trail plane failed to maintain sufficient separation from the lead plane. They also added that inadequate pilot training may also have been a contributing factor.
References
edit- ^ Nelson, Shelley (August 21, 2010). "Skydiving business celebrates 50 years". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ "National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Final Report". National Transportation Safety Board: 22. July 23, 2015 – via Aviation Safety Network.