1992 — April 22, Plane Crash, Perris Valley Aviation (Skydiving), Perris, CA — 16

–16  B3A. “Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Perris Valley: 16 killed.” Geneva.

–16  NTSB. Special Investigation Report on the Safety of Parachute Jump Operations. 2008, p3.

–16  Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1990s.” Oct 23, 2008 update.

 

Narrative Information

 

Notable CA Aviation Disasters:

“Date / Time: Wednesday, April 22, 1992 / 11:09 a.m.

“Operator / Flight No.: Perris Valley Aviation / Non-Commercial

“Location: PerrisValleyAirport, Perris, Calif.

 

“Details and Probable Cause:  The aircraft, a twin-engine de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 (N141PV), was carrying two pilots and several teams made up of 20 skydivers bound for a planned group jump over the Perris Valley.

 

“Immediately after takeoff, the aircraft’s right engine lost power, the right wing dipped to a 90-degree angle, and the plane smashed into the ground adjacent to the runway. Of the 22 occupants on board, 14 skydivers and both pilots were killed in the crash.

 

“The six surviving skydivers were all seriously injured, including formation skydiving coach and competitor Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, who remained in a coma for six weeks.

 

“Investigators determined that contaminated fuel caused the aircraft’s right engine to lose power.  The airport’s underground fuel tank, the tank truck used to fuel the crashed aircraft, and the plane’s right-engine fuel tank all contained a heavily contaminated mixture composed of water, an emulsifying agent, and bacterial growth.  During the preflight check the pilots failed to sump check the fuel tanks after the aircraft had been fueled.

 

“Also, upon takeoff, the pilot in command inadvertently feathered the wrong engine’s propeller after the plane experienced the power loss to its other engine.

 

“Fatalities: 16 — 14 skydivers (of the 20 aboard), and the 2 pilots.”  (Notable California Aviation Disasters.  “The 1990s.” Oct 23, 2008 update.)

 

NTSB Comments: “LAX92MA183, Perris, California, April 22, 1992…loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel contamination, pilot did not sump fuel tanks, pilot feathered wrong propeller, operator did not provide adequate pilot training…16 [fatalities].” (NTSB. Special Investigation Report on the Safety of Parachute Jump Operations (NTSB/SIR-08/01). 2008, p.3.)

 

Sources

 

B3A (Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives) . “Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Perris Valley: 16 killed.” Geneva, Switzerland. Accessed 4-12-2016 at: http://www.baaa-acro.com/1992/archives/crash-of-a-de-havilland-dhc-6-twin-otter-in-perris-valley-16-killed/

 

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 2-22-2016 at: http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SIR0801.pdf

 

Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1990s.” Oct 23, 2008 update. Accessed 10-20-2009 at: http://www.jaydeebee1.com/crash90s.html