We had a jumper hit a plane about 10 years ago, I think. Jumper broke his
ankle. All 4 in the plane died. He hit the rudder and jammed it. I think the
jumper sued the pilot's family.

Whenever we have a safety seminar and the subject of overflying the airport
to check the windsock comes up, I in variably have to pipe in with "unless
you see a little parachute next to the airport." If you can confirm that
there's no jumpa ctivity at the time, go ahead and overfly. If you can't,
stay outside the cone surrounding the landing pattern. This is where the
jumpers will be and that cone varies with wind direction.

I guess this guy actually didn't see the plane. For a second, I thought he
was aiming at it.

mike

"Mike Isaksen" wrote in message
news:lhAWg.5278$ms1.4384@trndny05...
Gus, hope you don't mind that I cross posted this. The video is incredible
from the jumper perspective. I noticed the plane in the lower left of the
video frame,... and I remember the pilot mantra: if it aint movin in the
windshield, you will hit it.

Jumpers are the only real scary aviation experience I've had. Back in the
late 90's I was acting as safety pilot for a friend and we wanted to fly
the whole approach so we didn't get ATC involved. Well it was quite a
surprise to me when a half dozen chutes "appeared" about four miles ahead.
We never heard the jump plane's call on unicom! And we cleared the area
promptly.

Since that event I've permanently changed some of my routine vfr xc
habits:
1. I try to get flight following every time.
2. I don't directly overfly airports on xc.
3. I specifically look for and circle the para symbols enroute.

"Gus Cabre" wrote in message ...

Mentioned in the Flyer e-group: skydiver nearly hits aircraft:
http://www.fugly.com/videos/6103/sky..._airplane.html