Two Planes Collide, Skydivers Survive

[GrauGeist]

Over the weekend, two aircraft collided while preparing for skydivers to jump:

(CNN) -- A weekend midair collision over northern Wisconsin sent one small plane careening into the ground while another limped safely back to the runway.

Fortunately, both planes were carrying skydivers -- meaning that for the 11 people aboard the two aircraft, the collision resulted in nothing more than minor injuries to two of them, firefighters reported.

"It's definitely a reminder of the danger of the sport that we all love," Skydive Superior instructor Mike Robinson told CNN affiliate KQDS.

The crash happened Saturday evening over Superior, Wisconsin, near the Minnesota state line. It happened as the two planes were flying close by as the skydivers prepared to jump in formation, Superior Fire Department Battalion Chief Vern Johnson told CNN.

Robinson said the lead plane, which crashed, had four skydivers aboard along with its pilot; the trailing plane had five parachutists.

Johnson said the pilot of the lead plane told firefighters that before the jump, he heard a loud bang and his windshield shattered. The plane caught fire and broke up in midair, but the skydivers and the pilot all parachuted to safety.

"Everybody got out safely. The pilot got out safely, used his emergency parachute and landed," Robinson said. "In the trail plane, all five jumpers got out of the airplane safely and landed safely."

The pilot of the plane that crashed "was visibly bloodied about his face and shirt and had one hand wrapped in a garment, but was otherwise lucid, alert and oriented," Johnson said. The pilot of the trailing plane landed safely and picked up the pilot of the crashed aircraft along the runway as he taxied in, Johnson said.

The CNN report and video here: Pilot, passengers jump to safety as skydiving planes collide - CNN.com

The NBC report with exclusive video and actual photos of the incident here:
Exclusive images show skydivers' terrifying collision and chaotic plunge - U.S. News

 

[N4521U]

They certainly took care of business and got out safely. All of them were extremely skilled at the sport.
I had been in a ferrying airplane with 6 jumpers up to 10,000 feet,
sitting on an upturned milk crate......
no parachute..... !

 

[Wildcat]

Incredible footage!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Most certainly a lucky escape.

 

[Wayne Little]

In a way they are lucky they collided in the manner they did, giving all the chance to escape, any other angle and things would have been much worse...

 

[Airframes]

Very lucky. But why formate so close for a freefall pin ?

 

[pbehn]

Than God the pilot had a chute, imagine having to leave him in it.

 

[GrauGeist]

Still trying to figure out why the upper ship was carelessly overtaking the 172, especially if disembarking jumpers. Why wasn't that pilot keeping the 172 in sight at all times.

The other thing that puzzles me, is how did the Pilot of the 172 have a chute? There just happened to be an extra one laying around? I know it sounds like a stupid question, but I don't recall ever seeing anyone flying a 172 (or similiar type) with a parachute before.

 

[gumbyk]

Still trying to figure out why the upper ship was carelessly overtaking the 172, especially if disembarking jumpers. Why wasn't that pilot keeping the 172 in sight at all times.

The other thing that puzzles me, is how did the Pilot of the 172 have a chute? There just happened to be an extra one laying around? I know it sounds like a stupid question, but I don't recall ever seeing anyone flying a 172 (or similiar type) with a parachute before.

I'm not sure about the US, but here, pilots of jump ships have to wear chutes. This is in case one of the jumpers has an early deployment of their chute and gets caught up in the tailplane.

It also looks like he descended into the other aircraft. A 172 can't have too much performance with that many people hanging on the outside of it. But still, the two aircraft were waaay too close together.

 

[Gnomey]

So lucky they all got out of it safety. Does look like they were too close together which is a shame but I'm sure they'll learn from it for the future.

 

[gumbyk]

I just can't believe that the skydivers hanging on the outside of the aircraft didn't bail before they collided!