Says Operator, Pilot Failed To Fly As Safely As Possible

One of four skydivers who survived an April plane crash in Missouri has sued the skydiving company and its pilot for negligence.

The Springfield News-Leader reports Tera Smith filed the suit in Greene County Circuit Court, which has jurisdiction over the accident site, on Monday. The suit asserts Smith is seeking "fair and reasonable" damages from FreeFall Express Skydiving Inc. to cover her "medical and other related expenses."

Smith broke her right leg as she exited the accident aircraft, a Cessna P206, on April 21. According to the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report on the crash, pilot Jason Rog inadvertently entered a spin at 10,500 feet MSL when he tried to turn back towards the jump zone.

As ANN reported, two women -- Marnie Fuller and Jennifer Collins, both staffers of FreeFall Express -- were killed in the accident. One attempted to jump from the stricken aircraft, but her reserve 'chute became entangled on the Cessna's tail; the second was found inside the aircraft wreckage.

Rog survived the accident, but suffered critical injuries. He has not yet been interviewed by the NTSB's lead investigator, Arnold Scott, due to the extent of his injuries.

Smith's suit alleges FreeFall Express, and owner Bryan Wilford, failed to train Rog to operate the jump aircraft with "the highest degree of care," and claims the pilot did not operate the Cessna with the "degree of skill and learning ordinarily used."

Lyn Wolford, Bryan's wife, wouldn't comment on the lawsuit... saying the company is still coping with the loss of two valued employees. "We lost two girls and everybody is just trying to deal with that," she said.

Tera Smith's husband, Michael, is also named as a plaintiff in the suit. He's suing the skydiving company for the loss of his wife's "support, services, consortium, care, companionship, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel, training and love."

FMI: Read The NTSB's Preliminary Report