11 die in skydiving crash..

[oldncold]

Over the weekend a Pilatus porter pc6 crashed shortly after take-off in France ,all 11 perished including some nurses that were taking their first jump in tadem with thier instructors. very sad day

[Dry Guy]

I wonder if they were using the 5,249' paved strip or the parallel 1804' grass strip. If it's 40°C in France that would really decrease performance. 11 people on board would put them at or near max gross. Witnesses seem to be saying the engine quit.

[goldeneagle]

I wonder if they were using the 5,249' paved strip or the parallel 1804' grass strip. If it's 40°C in France that would really decrease performance. 11 people on board would put them at or near max gross. Witnesses seem to be saying the engine quit.

Youtube ambulance chasers report they departed on the long runway, from the midfield taxiway

[TailwheelPilot]

11 people on board would put them at or near max gross.

Eleven people on board would put them near/at/over max zero fuel weight...which is 400kg less than max take off weight. I have seen mention it was the sixth flight without refuelling. If they did not exceed max zero fuel weight, they should have burnt enough fuel from full tanks to not exceed max take off weight (assuming they were not using external fuel tanks).

Not sure how they sit for tandem jumps, but it is not hard to load the B2-H4 aft of the aft CG limit.

I have read they had 750m of runway. Should be enough, but not a lot of extra room if there were obstacles.

[Pacqing]

I wonder if it was an upgraded -34 engine or the original -27?

[FL030]

I have seen mention it was the sixth flight without refuelling.

Fuel starvation is another possible cause then.