Cessna 182 accident near Hadley, Massachusetts, September 29, 1991
On September 29, 1991 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N6316A, was destroyed in an accident near Hadley, Massachusetts. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO ENTANGLEMENT OF A PREMATURELY DEPLOYED PARACHUTE IN THE ELEVATOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1991 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hadley, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N6316A · registry record · serial 33116
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITH THE DOOR OPEN AND PREPARING TO JUMP, A SKYDIVER HAD PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF HIS MAIN PARACHUTE. HE JUMPED OUT THE DOOR AND HIS PARACHUTE BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE ELEVATOR OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN AND THE OTHER SKYDIVERS IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE AIRPLANE. THE SKYDIVER WHOSE PARACHUTE WAS ENTANGLED WITH THE TAIL, CUT AWAY HIS PARACHUTE AND USED HIS RESERVED CHUTE FOR LANDING. THE ENTANGLED PARACHUTE THEN SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE, HOWEVER THE PILOT WAS STILL UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE AND DEPARTED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A FIELD.
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
- Flight time: 1,946 hours in all; 1,844 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 1,887 as pilot in command; 81 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B2 Northampton MA at 4:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from BAF, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC91LA252.