All Aboard Both Airplanes Survive The Accident

Two airplanes flying in formation near Superior, WI with a total of 11 people on board collided during flight Saturday. Fortunately, all nine skydivers and both pilots survived the accident.

Television station KBJR reports that the airplanes, at least one of which was identified as a Cessna 182, were part of a planned group jump. The skydivers in both planes were getting ready to exit the aircraft when the trail plane reportedly came over the top of the lead plane at 12,000 feet. Turbulence caused the trail plane to come down on top of the lead plane, shearing off a wing. The skydivers, already poised to jump, leaped clear of the damaged plane. The pilot, who was wearing an emergency parachute, was also able to get clear of the aircraft, which caught fire and spun to the ground, "disintegrating" as it fell.

The skydivers in the trail plane also jumped, and the pilot of that aircraft was able to land it safely, according to the report.

The only injury was to the pilot who exited his airplane. He reportedly suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

The planes belonged to Superior Skydive, which suspended flight operations while the accident is being investigated.

(Cessna 182 pictured in file photo. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov