The pilot of a skydiving plane sent help from above to the occupants of a Bonanza that did a forced landing near Milwaukee on Sunday. The Cessna Caravan was climbing to altitude over East Troy, Wisconsin, when the pilot spotted the Bonanza down in a field. He got hold of Milwaukee Departure with an unusual request. “If possible I can drop a load of skydivers over them to potentially help aid,” the pilot said. The controller told the pilot to send the skydivers at his discretion and three went out of the plane. By then, the pilot said two people (of four onboard) had gotten out of the plane and were “walking around.” All four suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The controller also sent help and the Caravan returned to base. Videos below have the ATC tape of the incident and the pilot’s description of what happened in his own words.
On Tuesday the skydiving company said some of the skydivers were ex-paramedics. “A few members of our skydiving community who are trained [emergency medical technicians] were already airborne in our jump plane and jumped out to assist at the scene, which was difficult to access from the road. “We’re grateful they were able to help when they were needed.”
Tabloid fare unworthy of serious aviation journalism.
Umm – no. If we saw a plane go down – and could land nearby to render aid/assistance we’d do so. So jumping out to offer the same – kudos to the jumpers!
And you would be right to do so.
Just the same, it’s a household consumer news network story, not a serious aviation story.
The BFU just came out with an interim report on the Viet Nam 787 late rotation/tail strike. Now that is a story worthy of serious aviation journalism. But it won’t be run on AvBrief till everyone else has run it.
What, exactly, is a “household consumer news network story?” For that matter, what’s a “serious aviation story?” I’m working on the Vietnam Airlines story now. I agree that it’s important (and a lot more complicated than it’s being portrayed by some) but no more so than lots of other stories we run.
What exactly is a household consumer news network story? You just published one Russ. Aviation article tastes, preferences and expectations on AvBrief need not necessarily be the same as bland Aviation Week and Space Technology content, but they are higher than what one would expect to be and which was broadcast tonight as entertainment for the unwashed masses during evening news hour. Just sayin as a loyal AvBrief friend and reader.
I guess my tastes are somewhat unwashed because I pick everything that goes into AvBrief. I think the skydiving story will be among the most read when it hits the newsletter on Wednesday but then so will the Vietnam Airlines story and there will be significant overlap. I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I don’t think everything we run has to be “important” but it should be interesting and I think the skydiving story is interesting.
👍
I’m just one AvBrief reader but, I like your choices.
Me too. If it’s interesting regardless of its actual importance to me, I like it. Keep making your “interesting read” decisions Russ.
Well said, Russ…the skydiving story is not only interesting but important to the aviation community…
You’re doing a great job, Russ. I admired your integrity in leaving AvWeb and starting this site. There will always be nitpickers in whatever endeavors people try. Personally, I think you have a great blend of deep stories and lighter ones. It’s up to us to click the headlines we like.
We’re in the air, we’re trained, we can be there in a couple of minutes. How could that be any better? Thanks for publishing the story, Russ!
I found the skydiver-paramedic story interesting because it showed an unusual approach to a rather familiar situation of a general aviation aircraft down–this from a Pilot and former USAF personnel of SAR, and a retired Police Chief of a suburban New York City force.
Here’s another story about a Gulfstream 100 missing.
gulfstream 100 crash Nantucket Bermuda.
Any “good news” story like this one will be tarred as vacuous by some but it does serve a useful purpose. It reminds us that aviation is not always a universe of little me-centered worlds but occasionally a community that cares.
I think it is a great aviation story. Aviation enthusiasts helping other aviation enthusiasts in a time of distress.
Please keep up the good work.
It’s a news story about aviation; it belongs here. If it was a tabloid they’d gush about the “incredible bravery of the fearless jumpers” find some way to connect the incident to politics, throw in something about global warming or carbon emissions of private jets, and mention three other unrelated plane crashes in the last twenty years.
Keep up the good work, Russ
I have no idea what John is talking about. Presumably he feels this publication should have some narrowly defined (by him) as to what constitutes aviation news. Sky divers jumping out of an airplane – and forgoing their EXPENSIVE pre-planned jump to possibly render aid to a downed airman is the friggin definition of a newsworthy aviation story!
So true!
exactly!
Just to add a bit to the story. A Cessna Caravan can carry about 16 jumpers (plus or minus). Rather than dropping the whole load and crowding the crash site, three jumped to render assistance. At least one of the three was an EMT (don’t know if current or former). He said one of the people who had exited the Bonanza had a head injury.
PS – jumping in to be a “hero” and “save the day” are certainly a draw in such an event. But the reality is this was not a casual decision. Landing “out” can pose many hazards, from hidden wires to uneven ground. A twisted ankle can turn a “hero” into a “liability”.
A lot of skydivers are former military, or pilots, or have some level of medical training. I’m not surprised there was at least one on board that could truly render aid beyond just being another pair of hands.
There is some lost cost involved (jumps at Skydive Milwaukee are $38 for licensed skydivers). But there’s also the lost opportunity for further jumps that day. However, I’m sure those three didn’t mind (if they even considered the costs to begin with). And the DZ owner and/or fellow jumpers likely feted the three skydivers for their help (most likely in embarrassing fashion).
In the end this was a good story of fellow GA participants helping each other out.
Thanks for sharing the jumper story. Lee
Superb story. And it is serious. Unplanned jumps involve increased risk.
I like your choices
I would like more discussions about alternative engines.
there are several out there some conversions from auto like Viking, some clean sheet like new designs Adept. there are good solutions to the 100LL problem that use fuels available in the world like regular gasoline or diesel and frequent reports would help all of them move forward. the more discussions we have about them the more help (and investment) they might be able to get