Pacific Aerospace Corp Ltd 750XL N902ST accident near Mulino, Oregon

Probable cause

The skydiver’s unintentional parachute deployment and subsequent entanglement with the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the airplane reported that, during a skydiving flight, a skydiver’s parachute deployed early and became entangled with the tail. He felt the airplane pitch up and down violently before the parachute dislodged from the tail. The skydivers exited the airplane successfully and he was able to land the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR24LA300 for the full record.