1982 — Oct 17, Private Beechcraft C-45 Parachuting Jump Plane Crash near Taft, CA– 14

–14  National Transportation Safety Board. NTSB Identification: LAX83FA012.

–14  NTSB. Special Investigation Report on the Safety of Parachute Jump Ops. 9-16-2008, p. 2.

–14  The Register, Orange County, CA. “2 countians victims of plane crash.” 10-18-1982, p. 1.

 

Narrative Information

 

National Transportation Safety Board:

 

“14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation

“Accident occurred Sunday, October 17, 1982 in Taft, CA

“Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/17/1983

“Aircraft Beech C-45H, registration: N403SE

“Injuries: 14 Fatal.

 

“….The aircraft was on a local flight involving a parachute jumping activity. In addition to the pilot, there were 12 parachutists and an observer on board. The pilot initiated his takeoff on runway 18. A witness stated that shortly after takeoff, the engine power was reduced to climb power, followed by the gear retraction. Reportedly, the aircraft had climbed to about 150 ft AGL [above ground level] when the nose pitched up, the plane rolled to the left and then it crashed in a steep left bank, nose down attitude. An investigation revealed that the aircraft was loaded well beyond its maximum gross weight and aft CG [center of gravity] limits. The amount of fuel on board was not verified, but even with no fuel, the plane would have been about 580 lbs over the maximum limit. With 100 gallons, the estimated gross weight would have been about 9939 lbs with the CG at about 121 inches. The maximum certificated gross weight was 8750 lbs with an aft CG limit of 117.6 inches. Extensive ground fire damage, but no preimpact, mechanical discrepancies evident.” (NTSB. NTSB Identification: LAX83FA012. Washington, DC: NTSB, 10-17-1983.)

 

National Transportation Safety Board Special Investigation Report:

 

“Abstract: This special investigation report describes the results of a National Transportation Safety Board review of 32 accidents that involved parachute jump (“or skydiving”) operations and that occurred between 1980 and 2008. The report identifies the following recurring safety issues: inadequate aircraft inspection and maintenance; pilot performance deficiencies in basic airmanship tasks, such as preflight inspections, weight and balance calculations, and emergency and recovery procedures; and inadequate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight and direct surveillance of parachute operations. Parachute jump operators, many of which transport parachutists for revenue, maintain their aircraft under regulatory provisions that require little FAA oversight. Lack of operation-specific pilot training is also discussed. Safety recommendations to the FAA and to the United States Parachute Association are included…” (p. ii.)

 

Newspaper

 

The Register: “Two Orange County men were among 14 people killed Sunday near Taft when a plane carrying skydivers stalled and crashed in flames in a parachute drop zone. An accident investigator says the twin-engine aircraft was over-loaded….The airplane was carrying twice as many passengers as it was supposed to, said Don Llorente, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. ‘That is not a 14-passenger airplane, even with modifications,’ said Llorente, who is investigating the crash. ‘Under normal seating capacity there would be six passengers and a crew of two, of which only a crew of one is required.’

 

“The pilot and owner of the plane was identified today as 65-year-old Monty H. Yarter of…West Los Angeles. ‘The issue is why the pilot, with 22 years’ experience, would take off with 13 passengers,’ Llorente said….

 

“The crash occurred at a privately operated former military airstrip eight miles southeast of Taft and 130 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The skydiving school has operated there for more than 20 years.

 

“What appeared to be a pill jar was found with the pilot, and Llorente said investigators were trying to determine what kind of pills it contained. He also said there was no evidence of required passenger straps in the charred wreckage of the plane.

 

Llorente said the C-45H, a Korean War-vintage military plane, is designed to carry a payload of 2,000 pounds. He said the 14 people aboard weighed an average of 170-pounds each and each had a 25-pound parachute, for a total payload of at least 2,730 pounds….”  [Article goes on to identify the victims by name, age and town of residence.] (The Register, Orange County, CA. “2 countians victims of plane crash.” 10-18-1982, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

National Transportation Safety Board. NTSB Identification: LAX83FA012. Washington, DC: NTSB, 10-17-1983. Accessed 4-18-2017 at: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20020917X04782&key=1

 

National Transportation Safety Board. Special Investigation Report on the Safety of Parachute Jump Operations (NTSB/SIR-08/01). Washington, DC: NTSB, adopted 9-16-2008, 64 pages. Accessed 4-18-2017 at: https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SIR0801.pdf

 

The Register, Orange County, CA. “2 countians victims of plane crash.” 10-18-1982, p. 1. Accessed 4-18-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-orange-county-register-oct-18-1982/?tag