De Havilland DHC-6 N716NC

Summary

On 27 April 1996 at about 21:35 local time, a De Havilland DHC-6 registered N716NC, operated by Freefall Express, was involved in an accident near Raeford, North Carolina, United States. 5 people were on board and one died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 April 1996 at 21:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Raeford, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Raeford Airport (5W4)

Coordinates

34.9708, -79.2193

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-6

Registration

N716NC

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Freefall Express

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Skydiving

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA96LA135

1 person died.

failure of the passenger to follow the instructions of ground personnel as she exited the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight returned from dropping parachutists, and the pilot left the engines running as the next load of parachutists loaded. A passenger, who had ridden on the previous flight, was instructed by the pilot to exit through the rear door and that ground personnel would direct her. The passenger exited the aircraft and was directed by ground personnel to the rear of the aircraft. The passenger started to the rear and then turned and walked toward the running left engine and propeller. Before ground personnel could stop her, she walked into the path of the left propeller.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.