Beech B90 accident near West Point, Virginia, August 1, 2009
On August 1, 2009 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Beech B90, registered N1999G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near West Point, Virginia. It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 6 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent deployment of the instructor's reserve parachute.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2009 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- West Point, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B90 · all B90s on the register
- Registration
- N1999G · no longer on the register · serial LJ-319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a skydiving flight at approximately 14,000 feet, an instructor positioned himself at the door opening with his jump student nearby. The student inadvertently pulled the instructor's reserve parachute D-ring, deploying the chute and pulling the instructor out of the airplane. The instructor contacted the left horizontal stabilizer then descended toward the ground coming to rest suspended in a tree by his parachute.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,430 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 205 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 12, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,955 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 17, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 9,650 lb
- Seats: 15
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6 SER 578HP (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: U/A Canada PT6 SER 578HP (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rampart Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: West Point VA
- Destination: FYJ West Point VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:02 pm from FYJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 5 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N1999G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.