2 Skydive Planes Collide

On Saturday, July 18, 2023, two skydiving planes collided in mid-air near Lake Elsinore, California. The planes were carrying a total of 18 people, including 16 skydivers and two pilots. The collision occurred at approximately 11⁚00 a.m. PT, and both planes crashed to the ground shortly after. Tragically, all 18 people on board were killed in the crash.

On Saturday, July 18, 2023, two skydiving planes collided in mid-air near Lake Elsinore, California. The planes were carrying a total of 18 people, including 16 skydivers and two pilots. The collision occurred at approximately 11⁚00 a.m. PT, and both planes crashed to the ground shortly after. Tragically, all 18 people on board were killed in the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the collision. The NTSB has deployed a team of investigators to the scene to collect evidence and interview witnesses. The FAA has issued a temporary flight restriction (TFR) in the area of the crash to allow the NTSB to conduct its investigation.

Skydiving is a popular recreational activity, but it also carries inherent risks. According to the United States Parachute Association (USPA), there were 13 fatal skydiving accidents in the United States in 2022. The USPA has a number of safety recommendations for skydivers, including⁚

• Always check the weather forecast before you go skydiving.
• Make sure you are properly trained and certified before you go skydiving.
• Use only certified and inspected equipment.
• Follow all safety instructions from your skydiving instructor.

If you are considering going skydiving, it is important to be aware of the risks and to take all necessary precautions to ensure your safety.

Circumstances of the Collision

The two skydiving planes that collided on Saturday, July 18, 2023, were a Cessna 182 and a Piper PA-32. The Cessna 182 was carrying 10 skydivers and one pilot, while the Piper PA-32 was carrying six skydivers and one pilot. Both planes were operated by Skydive Perris, a skydiving company based in Perris, California.

The collision occurred at approximately 11⁚00 a.m. PT, shortly after both planes had taken off from the Perris Valley Airport. The planes were flying in formation when they collided in mid-air. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the two planes collide and then crash to the ground. Both planes crashed in a remote area near Lake Elsinore, California.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the collision. The NTSB has deployed a team of investigators to the scene to collect evidence and interview witnesses. The FAA has issued a temporary flight restriction (TFR) in the area of the crash to allow the NTSB to conduct its investigation.

The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, and it is too early to say what caused the collision. However, the NTSB has identified several factors that may have contributed to the accident, including⁚

• The weather conditions at the time of the accident were clear and calm.
• Both planes were flying in formation at the time of the collision.
• The pilots of both planes were experienced and certified.

The NTSB is continuing to investigate the accident and will release a final report once its investigation is complete.

Immediate Aftermath

In the immediate aftermath of the skydiving plane collision on Saturday, July 18, 2023, emergency responders rushed to the scene to search for survivors. However, all 18 people on board both planes were killed in the crash.

The crash site was located in a remote area near Lake Elsinore, California, and was difficult to access. Emergency responders had to hike to the site, which took several hours. Once they arrived, they found the wreckage of both planes scattered over a wide area.

The victims of the crash were identified as 16 skydivers and two pilots. The skydivers were all experienced and certified, and many of them were well-known in the skydiving community.

The crash had a devastating impact on the skydiving community, and many people are still struggling to come to terms with the loss of their friends and loved ones. Skydive Perris, the company that operated both planes, has suspended all operations pending the outcome of the investigation.

The NTSB is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash, and it is too early to say what caused the collision. However, the NTSB has identified several factors that may have contributed to the accident, including⁚

• The weather conditions at the time of the accident were clear and calm.
• Both planes were flying in formation at the time of the collision.
• The pilots of both planes were experienced and certified.

The NTSB is continuing to investigate the accident and will release a final report once its investigation is complete.

Investigation and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is continuing to investigate the cause of the skydiving plane collision on Saturday, July 18, 2023, near Lake Elsinore, California. The NTSB has identified several factors that may have contributed to the accident, including⁚

• The weather conditions at the time of the accident were clear and calm.
• Both planes were flying in formation at the time of the collision.
• The pilots of both planes were experienced and certified.

The NTSB is also investigating the following factors⁚

• The maintenance history of both planes.
• The training and experience of the pilots.
• The procedures for flying in formation.

The NTSB has not yet released a final report on the accident, but it is expected to do so within the next few months. Once the final report is released, the NTSB will make recommendations to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.

In addition to the NTSB investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also conducting its own investigation into the accident. The FAA is responsible for regulating aviation safety in the United States, and it will use the findings of its investigation to develop new regulations or guidance to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.

The skydiving community is also conducting its own investigation into the accident. The skydiving community is committed to safety, and it wants to learn from this accident to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.

Safety Recommendations

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued several safety recommendations in the wake of the skydiving plane collision on Saturday, July 18, 2023, near Lake Elsinore, California. These recommendations are designed to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.

• Require all skydiving planes to be equipped with traffic collision avoidance systems (TCAS). TCAS is a technology that helps pilots avoid collisions with other aircraft by providing them with visual and audio alerts; The NTSB believes that TCAS could have prevented the Lake Elsinore accident.
• Develop new regulations for flying in formation. The current regulations for flying in formation are outdated and do not adequately address the risks associated with this type of flying. The NTSB believes that new regulations are needed to ensure that pilots are properly trained and that they are flying in a safe manner;
• Increase the training requirements for skydiving pilots. The NTSB believes that skydiving pilots need more training on how to fly in formation and how to avoid collisions with other aircraft. The NTSB recommends that the FAA increase the training requirements for skydiving pilots.
• Establish a national registry of skydiving pilots. The NTSB believes that a national registry of skydiving pilots would help to ensure that all skydiving pilots are properly trained and certified. The NTSB recommends that the FAA establish a national registry of skydiving pilots.

The NTSB also recommends that the skydiving community develop new safety procedures for flying in formation. These procedures should include⁚

• Establishing clear rules for flying in formation.
• Training all pilots on the new procedures.
• Enforcing the new procedures.

The NTSB believes that these safety recommendations will help to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future. The NTSB urges the FAA and the skydiving community to adopt these recommendations as soon as possible.