On Mon, 30 Oct 2006 20:48:19 -0800, Ron Wanttaja
wrote:

I think that the type of event the parachute is intended for would likely be an
accident in a non-chute-equipped airplane, as well. Hence the accident rate
*shouldn't* be different... but there hopefully would be an advantage in the
fatality rate.

The second part ought to be true, but not the first. The Cirrus should
have *more* accidents, because isn't every deployment an accident? I
mean, aren't all Cirrus PLFs (I've been waiting since Fort Bragg to
use that acronym!) going to damage the airplane?

Some or many of those accidents would have been avoided without the
parachute, since the pilot would make an emergency landing, hopefully
without damage to the airplane.