Beech 99 accident near Lodi, California, August 22, 2006
On August 22, 2006 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Beech 99, registered N205TC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lodi, California (Lodi Linds airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 13 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the skydiver to correctly follow procedures and directives on exiting the airplane properly, which resulted in his collision with the horizontal stabilizer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2006 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lodi, California · Lodi Linds · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 13 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 99 · all 99s on the register
- Registration
- N205TC · registry record · serial U5
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A skydiver jumped up and out of the airplane instead of dropping out of the exit and keeping a low trajectory. He then impacted the horizontal stabilizer and fell away from the leading edge. The skydiver's automatic deployment system activated and opened the parachute. The skydiver was warned by other skydivers the day before when he exited in a similar manner. In addition, he was instructed to stay low and not to jump up just prior to exiting the airplane.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 31,485 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 1, 2006; 28 hours since
- Seats: 19
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lodi CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 12 |
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.