Cessna 182B accident near Ellijay, Georgia, April 30, 1994
On April 30, 1994 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182B, registered N2673G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ellijay, Georgia. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE PARACHUTE BECAUSE OF THE JUMPMASTER'S INATTENTION TO THE STATIC LINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 1994 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ellijay, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182B · all 182Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2673G · registry record · serial 51973
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT SPORT PARACHUTIST WAS PREPARING FOR A STATIC LINE JUMP. THE PARACHUTE INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AS HE WAS MOVING INTO JUMP POSITION, OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPLANE. CANOPY STATIC LINES CAUGHT ON THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, TWISTING THE EMPENNAGE. THE JUMPMASTER STATED THAT NO MALFUNCTIONS WERE DISCOVERED DURING A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE PARACHUTE. A SPORT PARACHUTING INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT AN INADVERTENT PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT IS POSSIBLE DURING THE JUMPERS MOVE INTO POSITION OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPLANE. THE STATIC LINE MAY CATCH ON THE AIRPLANE STRUCTURE, OR BE HELD TOO TIGHTLY BY THE INSTRUCTOR, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 415 hours in all; 228 in this make and model; 255 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,010 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1993; 257 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.