[Previous entry: "2003 Parachute Industry Association Symposium /2002 Fall Season Swoop Competition"]
[Next entry: "One-Round NSL Championship/Extending Repack Cycle"]

Georgia’s worst skydiving accident occurred Sept. 29, 1985, and many of us in the sport today know little about what occurred and what skydiving was like back in the 80s. But I recently was given the book “Cowboy’s Caravan” to read, which is an account of the accident and investigation as well as a window into Georgia skydiving in the 1980s. The book was written by Robert L. Williams, the father of one of the skydivers killed in the crash. His son, David “Cowboy” Williams, a skydiver and pilot, was also the owner of the Cessna Caravan that crashed not far off the end of the runway at the Westwind drop zone, near Jenkinsburg, killing all 17 aboard. Having not been a part of skydiving during this time, I can not verify or substantiate the facts and story presented in “Cowboy’s Caravan,” but the author does bring up several interesting points about certain friends of “Cowboy” who were involved in drug operations as well as problems with the aircraft itself and the fuel barrels at the drop zone. The official cause of the crash released by the National Transportation Safety Board was water in the fuel; 34 percent water to fuel in the tank. The official report is available on the AOPA web site at www.aopa.org/asf/ntsb/index.html. Part of the report states, “Fuel in the tanks was contaminated with water and foreign material with the appearance of brown algae…(This aircraft) had a history of fuel contamination…(the) aircraft was estimated to be 370 pounds over its maximum weight limit.” In addition to the author’s other theories on the reason for the crash, one of the most interesting parts of the book is the general history of jumpers who are still in the sport today, including Dolphin manufacturer Mike Furry, Georgia jumper Louis Bottoms and instructors Bill Scott and Billy Rhodes. “I still believe the crash was not an accident,” the author concludes. “I have hope that someday there will be evidence to prove what actually happened.” To order this book, click on this link.

Many “firsts” occurred last week at Atlanta Skydiving Center as the drop zone hosted an Accelerated Freefall Instructor Course. All four candidates passed the ground preparation evaluations and three candidates passed the air evaluations in three straight jumps. It was the first-ever AFF Instructor Course held at ASC and went off without a hitch thanks to an organized course director, helpful evaluators, great facilities and aircraft. AFF Instructor graduate Mark Shimell was ASC’s first AFF student graduate. Mark made his first AFF jump at ASC a few weeks after the drop zone opened on Sept. 6, 1997. Five years later, he has become the first “home-grown” AFF Instructor as ASC’s first-ever student graduate is now instructing AFF students himself. Victor Soukup, a citizen of the Czech Republic, has worked and jumped at ASC for his college internship over the last year. Victor claims to be the first-ever Czech with a United States Parachute Association AFF rating. Victor says there are Czechs who hold the country’s version of the AFF rating, but the course isn’t nearly as tough to pass. Also passing the course was rigger and 4-way competitor Mike Gruwell. Kerry Walker, aka “Super Whuffo,” passed the ground evaluations and will take the air evaluations at a later date. Kerry learned about the importance of belly skills as most of his 700 jumps over the past year were freefly jumps. Beer is also due from AFF Instructors Jack Sheehy and Fast Eddie Grantland, acting as evaluators for the first time. On a side note, Chuting Star Rigging Loft now has the template for making practice ripcords for AFF Instructor jumps. The course director, Glenn Bangs, uses a Velcro pouch wrapped around a leg strap, which contains a ripcord handle attached to trim tape. Velcro at both ends of the tape allow for full stowage as well as simulation of a floating ripcord in freefall. We can build these for interested candidates.