N19703Cessna 172L · 1972

The flight instructor explained that immediately after the airplane lifted from the runway, a parachutist beneath a fully fully-deployed canopy appeared from above and to the left of the high-winged airplane about 15-20 ft above ground level. The parachutist was aligned to cross the runway from left to right immediately to his front, so he turned right to raise the left wing in hopes of striking the parachute instead of the parachutist.

Witnesses described the collision, pieces separating from the airplane, and the parachutist “skidding” across the runway before coming to rest unhurt. The instructor maneuvered the substantially substantially-damaged airplane and landed it successfully with both occupants emerging unhurt.

According to the operator of the skydiving activity, the parachutist failed to enter the area surrounding the designated drop zone properly and into the wind, but instead overshot the landing zone in the downwind direction and crossed in front of the departing airplane.

In a written statement, the parachutist explained that he was a “student” and that he lacked control of the canopy when he experienced a “sudden change of winds.” He stated that the wind “pushed” him in the direction of the departure runway. The parachutist added that because he was a student in a “highly good” training environment, that he would improve his “skills and experience” with more training.