Mon, Apr 21, 2008
Details Uncertain As To Cause -- Four Jumpers Bailed, Pilot
Severely Injured
A late Saturday afternoon flight in a FreeFall Express Skydiving
Cessna 206 has resulted in 2 deaths after the aircraft went down
shortly after takeoff, in Mt. Vernon, MO.
According to local reports, the aircraft carried a load of seven
people but the operator claims that the load was within the
operational capabilities of the aircraft.. The pilot stayed with
the aircraft and is alive but seriously injured while four
skydivers successfully exited the aircraft with no significant
injuries. A fifth jumper was found at the crash scene with her
chute wrapped over the horizontal stabilizer while a sixth was
found in the aircraft, deceased.
The only real information to be had at this point comes from
local media sources... who seem to be a mite confused over whether
the aircraft stalled or the engine "stalled" in the reports thus
far published. Pictures from the impact site show the aircraft
impacted nearly vertically amongst a stand of trees but that the
aft part of the cabin/fuselage is surprisingly intact. Still, what
little seems to be known with any certainty is that the aircraft
had departed from the field used by the Drop Zone and the impact
area is listed as some two miles from the Mt. Vernon Airport.
ANN E-I-C Note: Late Sunday reports from
local media have added some details, though they have yet to
be confirmed by official sources with the FAA or NTSB. Those
reports indicate that the aircraft reached 10,000 feet when it
experienced some form of loss of control.
Confirmed as deceased in this accident are Marnie Fuller (36)
and Jennifer Collins (32), both of whom were listed as P/T staffers
for Freefall Express, each with several hundred jumps to their
credit.
The pilot, 32 year-old Jason Rog, was listed in critical
condition throughout Saturday but prognosis has improved and
his condition has been upgraded to serious. ANN extends its
condolences and prayers to all those at FreeFall Express... which
we know to be a safety-conscious DZ.
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