Claris Law Legal Blogging Community

Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Category: Plane Crashes

Saturday, May 12, was a beautiful clear sunny day and perfect for sky diving. An engaged couple in their mid twenties were to participate in tandem jumps in which they would be attached to their instructors who would control the parachute that would carry both to a safe landing on the ground.

That didn't happen. Shortly after takeoff the Cessna 182 crashed and burned killing all five on board. This Cessna is a common model used for sky diving, believed to be in good operating condition, and piloted by someone experienced with over 500 hours of flying time and who had a commercial rating. So what went so terribly wrong? The NTSB hasn't made a determination as to the cause of the crash at this writing, but it is reported the plane made a sharp 180 degree turn at about 500 feet before plummeting to the ground.