Beech B90 accident near Waynesville, Ohio, July 20, 1991
On July 20, 1991 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Beech B90, registered N9HW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waynesville, Ohio. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SHROUD LINES FROM THE PARACHUTE CUTTING THROUGH THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND DEFORMING THE LEFT ELEVATOR AFTER THE JUMPER HAD AN UNCOMMANDED DEPLOYMENT OF HIS RESERVE PARACHUTE AND WAS PULLED FROM THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1991 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Waynesville, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B90 · all B90s on the register
- Registration
- N9HW · registry record · serial LJ-459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE JUMPMASTER AND STUDENT JUMPER BACKED INTO THE DOOR OF THE AIRPLANE IN PREPARATION FOR A TANDEM JUMP, HE HAD A UNCOMMANDED DEPLOYMENT OF HIS RESERVE PARACHUTE, THAT DRAGGED THEM OUT THE DOOR. THE JUMPERS WENT UNDER THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WHILE THE CANOPY WENT OVER THE TOP. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE PARACHUTE SHROUD LINES CUT THROUGH THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND DEFORMED THE LEFT ELEVATOR. THE TANDEM JUMPERS FELL FREE, CUT AWAY THE DAMAGED RESERVE PARACHUTE, AND DEPLOYED THE MAIN CANOPY. THE AIRPLANE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE. A WITNESS SAW THE PILOT CHUTE FOR THE RESERVE PARACHUTE DEPLOY AS THE JUMPER BACKED INTO THE DOOR. HE SAID THE PARACHUTE WAS SECURE WHEN HE OBSERVED IT A FEW SECONDS PRIOR TO THE JUMP.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,782 hours in all; 157 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 415 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,610 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 29, 1991; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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.