All we have is press reports at present, and you know how reliable they are.
Comments from the skydivers club indicate that on a cross-country like this
they would take off their chutes and use them as pillows. Last two radar
hits indicated a vertical speed of 7000 fpm, which is not conducive to
leaving the airplane, to say the least.

The tail was found some distance from the main wreckage; the Caravan has
icing issues. Related? I can't say.

Bob Gardner

wrote in message
oups.com...
On Oct 9, 10:52 am, RL Anderson wrote:
Greetings All,

Thought I'd pass on that there has been a horrific crash this past
Sunday (7 Oct). There was a Caravan used for skydiving, with 10 people
aboard, traveling between Star Idaho and Shelton Washington. The
airplane went down in the general vicinity of White Pass, a 4500 foot
mountain pass on US 12, located on the boundary of Yakima and Lewis
Counties, in the South Central Washington Cascade Mountains. According
to local news, no survivors have been found. I am acquainted with
several skydivers and some of the other folks at the aircraft owner,
Skydive Kapowsin. I hope that none of the folks I know are involved.

Here are some links to the story.

http://www.herald-republic.com/page/dis/290013970261411
http://www.herald-republic.com/page/dis/290013901892319

Pass on as you see fit.

Rick

Do you have any idea what the weather was like at the time of the
crash? Why was he so low? Was he scud running?

I was thinking that if it had been an engine failure at altitude, the
passenges would have bailed out with their chutes, given that they
were experienced skydivers.