A skydiver in Far North Queensland found himself hanging beneath the tail of a Cessna 208 Caravan after his reserve parachute unexpectedly deployed and became entangled with the aircraft’s horizontal stabiliser, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) reports in a newly released final investigation.
The incident occurred on 20 September 2025, shortly after the aircraft departed Tully Airport with a pilot and 17 parachutists on board for a planned 16-way formation jump from 15,000 ft.
Reserve chute deployed after snagging on flap
As the first parachutist began to climb out of the roller door, the handle of his reserve parachute snagged on the wing flap, causing an immediate and unintended deployment. The rapid drag pulled the parachutist backwards, striking the left horizontal stabiliser and causing substantial structural damage.
The reserve canopy then wrapped around the stabiliser, leaving the skydiver suspended below the tailplane.
Inside the cockpit, the pilot initially felt the aircraft pitch up sharply and saw the airspeed rapidly decrease. “Initially unaware of what had occurred, the pilot believed the aircraft had stalled,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said. Only after other jumpers informed the pilot that a skydiver was caught on the tail did he reduce power and reassess the situation.
Pilot fighting to maintain control
With the stabiliser damaged and part of the parachute still wrapped around it, the pilot reported severe control difficulties, needing strong forward pressure and significant right aileron input to keep the aircraft level.
Thirteen parachutists exited the aircraft during the emergency, while two remained at the door observing the trapped jumper. Using a hook knife, the skydiver managed to cut 11 lines from the reserve canopy, allowing the remaining material to tear away and freeing them from the tail.
Once in freefall, the skydiver successfully deployed his main parachute—despite entanglement with remaining reserve lines—and landed with only minor injuries.
Safe landing after MAYDAY
With all parachutists clear, the pilot retracted the flaps, gaining slightly more control authority. Maintaining about 120 kt, he declared a MAYDAY to Brisbane Centre ATC while preparing for the possibility of bailing out using his own emergency parachute.
Descending through 2,500 ft, the pilot assessed that the aircraft was controllable enough to attempt a landing. In what the ATSB described as a “difficult and exceptional” situation, the pilot managed to land safely at Tully Airport.
Key reminders for skydivers and operators
The ATSB emphasised that parachutists must remain aware of their cutaway and reserve handles, especially during exit, as inadvertent deployments can be catastrophic. The use of a hook knife, while not mandatory, proved crucial in this event.
Investigators also noted that the aircraft was not loaded within its weight and balance limits, though this did not contribute to the accident. Previous parachuting accidents have shown the potentially fatal consequences of operating outside centre-of-gravity limits, highlighting the importance of proper load calculations before each sortie.