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Pilot of a PA28 takes evasive action to avoid skydivers near the laurel, md, airport which has a parachute symbol on the sectional chart.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 508047 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200104 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : sby.airport |
| State Reference | MD |
| Altitude | msl single value : 2800 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : lou.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 870 flight time type : 500 |
| ASRS Report | 508047 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | other personnel other |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : skydivers other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
While cruising at 2800 ft, autoplt, course 278 degrees, I was monitoring sby frequency which is class D airspace (just north of sby) when I noted a skydiver directly ahead. Then they also appeared to the side of me. I held course to clear the ones to the side, about 1/4 mi from me. I then banked left to avoid the one directly ahead of me, about 1/4 - 1/2 mi. I monitored the sby FSS for safety since it is a commuter field, but there were no indications of local skydiving activity. When I switched to the N06 (laurel) frequency, there were further announcements of activity. Since this activity is so close to a busy controled airport (sby), I think for the safety of the skydivers, that it should be announced by the sby FSS as well as the more local N06.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF A PA28 TAKES EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID SKYDIVERS NEAR THE LAUREL, MD, ARPT WHICH HAS A PARACHUTE SYMBOL ON THE SECTIONAL CHART.
Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT 2800 FT, AUTOPLT, COURSE 278 DEGS, I WAS MONITORING SBY FREQ WHICH IS CLASS D AIRSPACE (JUST N OF SBY) WHEN I NOTED A SKYDIVER DIRECTLY AHEAD. THEN THEY ALSO APPEARED TO THE SIDE OF ME. I HELD COURSE TO CLR THE ONES TO THE SIDE, ABOUT 1/4 MI FROM ME. I THEN BANKED L TO AVOID THE ONE DIRECTLY AHEAD OF ME, ABOUT 1/4 - 1/2 MI. I MONITORED THE SBY FSS FOR SAFETY SINCE IT IS A COMMUTER FIELD, BUT THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF LCL SKYDIVING ACTIVITY. WHEN I SWITCHED TO THE N06 (LAUREL) FREQ, THERE WERE FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS OF ACTIVITY. SINCE THIS ACTIVITY IS SO CLOSE TO A BUSY CTLED ARPT (SBY), I THINK FOR THE SAFETY OF THE SKYDIVERS, THAT IT SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED BY THE SBY FSS AS WELL AS THE MORE LCL N06.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.