Four Deployments Equal Eight Saves

Details are still coming in as we write this, but a "bad weather" related CAPS deployment has apparently resulted in a successful save for Cirrus Pilot William Graham (65) and his passenger Barbara Graham (64).

Police were alerted to the accident at approximately 1630 PST, Sunday afternoon, and a search of the Stockton California area found Graham's Cirrus, N931CD, aloft in a walnut tree, without an injury to pilot or passenger.

Local authorities were told that "the aircraft stalled at approximately 16,000 feet. Severe weather at 13,000 to 15,000 feet sent the plane into a spin. The pilot turned off the engine and deployed the plane's emergency parachute." We are told by COPA's Mike Radomsky that Graham is an experienced and respected pilot with excellent credentials, so take from that what you will, but we hope to have more specific info shortly... Mike adds that he's "absolutely delighted to hear of Graham's save" and sees the deployment as further vindication of the CAPS system.

The incident tookplace about 20 NM E of stockton,and the aircraft came to rest 1 NM SW of Peters, CA. The aircraft was enroute from Redding, CA, to San Diego.

** Report created 9/20/2004 Record 21 **
IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 931CD Make/Model: SR22 Description: SR-22
 Date: 09/19/2004 Time: 2305
 Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
 Damage: Minor
LOCATION
 City: MANTECA State: CA Country: US

DESCRIPTION
PILOT REPORTED ACFT OUT OF CONTROL AND DEPLOYED HIS ON BOARD PARACHUTE. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. MANTECA, CA

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
 # Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Pass: 2 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: NOT REPORTED
 OTHER DATA
 Activity: Unknown Phase: Cruise Operation: General Aviation
 Departed: RDD Dep Date: 09/19/2004 Dep. Time:
 Destination: SEE Flt Plan: VFR Wx Briefing: Y
 Last Radio Cont: 2MI E OF MANTECA  Last Clearance: MAINTAIN VFR
 FAA FSDO: OAKLAND, CA (WP27) Entry date: 09/20/2004

FMI: www.cirrusdesign.com. www.brsparachutes.com, www.cirruspilots.org