Silvana - Silvana

On August 21, 1983 at 06:32 PM, Silvana - Silvana experienced a crash involving Lockheed 18 LodeStar, operated by Command Aviation, with the event recorded near Silvana Washington.

The flight was categorized as skydiving / paratroopers and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

26 people were known to be on board, 11 fatalities were recorded, 15 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 42.3%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 24, passenger fatalities: 9, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft was on a sport parachute flight to carry 24 parachutists to 12,500' over a drop zone (dz) for a mass jump. It was in a cargo configuration with no passenger seats, but it had one jump seat. There were 24 seat belts on the floor of the cargo area. Also, the cabin door had been removed and an unapproved step and 4 handholds were installed outside and forward of the cabin door for parachutists. The usual jump-run procedure was for the aircraft to be slowed to 95 to 100 knots, extend the gear and approach flaps and reduce power on the left engine. The jumpers remained in position without using seat belts until approaching the dz, then two moved outside the aircraft while others moved close to the doorway. The first jumpers were unaware of any problem, but saw the aircraft enter a steep bank, roll over and spiral nose down. 16 jumpers exited the aircraft, but three hit the stabilizer. The aircraft crashed in a near vertical descent. Investigation revealed the cg was behind the aft limit for takeoff and the jump. The elevator trim actuator was found in a position for full nose-up trim.

Aircraft reference details include registration N116CA, MSN 2472, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 48.2023°, -122.2553°.