Three Cessnas crashed within a six-day period in October, each killing one skydiver on board and injuring others. Additionally, a Beech Twin Bonanza formerly used as a jump plane crashed on a post-maintenance take off, killing its sole occupant, a current jump pilot. The accidents appear to have no common thread, but should be the focus of skydiver and jump pilot attention. One accident involved a premature deployment and should remind jumpers of the importance of gear checks prior to boarding and just before exit. The other two accidents occurred on take off, which is the most critical phase of flight, demanding pilot attention and readiness for an emergency. The use of a seat belt might have prevented one of the fatalities. Federal investigators are looking at all four accidents.
