NTSB Factual Report

On November 8, 1997, about 1315 central standard time, a Dehavilland DHC-6-6, N1022S, registered to Fayard Enterprises Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, local parachute jump flight, was standing with both engines operating when a parachutist boarding the airplane was struck by the left propeller and fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received minor damage. The airline transport pilot and 16 other parachutists were not injured. The flight was originating at the time.

According to the FAA, 17 parachutists were boarding the airplane. A 31-year-old male parachutist made an attempt to walk between the left side of the fuselage and the left engine, when he was struck by the left engine propeller. The fatally injured parachutist had made one previous jump in N1022S earlier that day, and according to the FAA, had more then 250 jumps to his credit.

The loader/jump master stated, the subject parachutist notified him that on his next jump he would have a smoke canister on the airplane and that the pilot should be notified. The loader/jump master told him, "...that to notify the pilot would be his (the loader's) job, that he [the parachutist] was just to board the aircraft." The loader started boarding the jumpers and he went forward to give the pilot the information. The loader/jump master said, "...disregarding [his] the loaders instructions the subject walked from the rear left area and proceeded straight to the cockpit door where the loader and pilot were. In spite of several people hollering at him the subject walked into the left side engine propeller...."

NTSB Probable Cause

a passenger's inadvertent encounter with a rotating propeller.