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C172 pilot experienced an airborne conflict with a skydiver on short final and executed an evasive go-around.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1403763 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201611 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 8 Flight Crew Total 845 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Conflict Airborne Conflict |
Narrative:
Midmorning; on a sunny; clear; VFR flight; I was on short final approach. I saw a skydiver descending north of the runway; heading to the south; and gliding right over the runway. The skydiver was not where he was supposed to be. I had to take immediate evasive action to avoid the possibility of hitting the skydiver and I immediately terminated the approach and turned to the north-northwest. My co-pilot immediately called the jump plane on the common airport frequency and told him. He responded that he was aware of the event and he would admonish the skydiver to never do this again.I am aware from previously flying in and out of ZZZ and talking to the manager of the skydiving operation that the skydivers are always supposed to descend and land on the south side of the runway and under no circumstances are they to descend over or cross the runway. The lesson learned is to stay far away from the airport because you can never predict when a skydiver will violate the skydiving descent and landing rules. I think skydiving and flying operations at the same airport at the same time is extremely dangerous; and just as dangerous; if not more so; than flying drones around airports; which of course; is not allowed. Skydiving should be conducted at airports which are designated exclusively for skydiving with no general aviation being allowed to land or takeoff; except for the jump plane.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C172 pilot experienced an airborne conflict with a skydiver on short final and executed an evasive go-around.
Narrative: Midmorning; on a sunny; clear; VFR flight; I was on short final approach. I saw a skydiver descending north of the runway; heading to the south; and gliding right over the runway. The skydiver was not where he was supposed to be. I had to take immediate evasive action to avoid the possibility of hitting the skydiver and I immediately terminated the approach and turned to the north-northwest. My co-pilot immediately called the jump plane on the common airport frequency and told him. He responded that he was aware of the event and he would admonish the skydiver to never do this again.I am aware from previously flying in and out of ZZZ and talking to the manager of the skydiving operation that the skydivers are always supposed to descend and land on the south side of the runway and under no circumstances are they to descend over or cross the runway. The lesson learned is to stay far away from the airport because you can never predict when a skydiver will violate the skydiving descent and landing rules. I think skydiving and flying operations at the same airport at the same time is extremely dangerous; and just as dangerous; if not more so; than flying drones around airports; which of course; is not allowed. Skydiving should be conducted at airports which are designated exclusively for skydiving with no general aviation being allowed to land or takeoff; except for the jump plane.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.