rwcat

Scratch Garrison?????Quote

Small world indeed!

Yea...I got nailed by it. Thought I'd reply since you're an Aussie. Ken Hills, also an Aussie house sat my house for a few months after that event as I didn't get out of hospital til September. My back was to that door that was taken off its hinges by the left prop. Fuuny thingis that a few months previously I was by that same door going to altitude at Pope Valley, Ca and Dan Kitley was on board (aircraft mechanic) and told me never to locate myself there, cause if that prop ever came off...it was coming right through that door. The rush of competition and I being on 4th 10-way for exit had us loaded forward...guess that distracted me from what Dan had told me.

I've still got an old 5TU.

I think you can get him on Facebook

That was indeed Norton laying inside of one of the cells of Steve Haley's canopy. It was at Pope Valley and they landed it like that. Norton swung his feet down as Haley's canopy went slack when Haley touched down. Norton did a stand up still inside of Haley's canopy. Norton had Haley's canopy clinched in his teeth and controlling his flare with his hands/toggles.

Recently Jay Chagnon told me he had seen him a few months ago. Jay is living in Vallejo, CA. I haven't seen Larry is quite a few years...I remember his jet black hair....Jay says it's now white. Time flies! Email me at [email protected], and I'll forward it to Jaybird. Ray Catlette

Lot of incorrect info posted, but some is accurate. See rwcat's post under DC-3's for some clarifications.

Ask about jumping El Cap & Stardusters....Tell either of them Catlette said helloQuote

Just ran across this posting ... not the news I was hoping to read. I jumped in Carolinas 70-75 before moving to California...most all my jumps in Carolina were with Charlotte Skydivers and jumping with Carolina Sport Parachute Council. Those meets took us around to various DZ's...Barnwell one of them. I remember Bobby. Remember you too Woody. Those days hold fond memories...I have some photos of jumping at Barnwell...a favorite one is in one of my log books...View of peas with dust storm obscuring horizon...meet was canceled due to wind. Wind sock looks like it was made of something solid and a small boy was being pulled across peas (on his feet by a pilot chute. I remember Bobby's smiling face quite well. I feel diminished by reading of his death, and hope his family and closest friends are doing as best as can be expected. I can't remember who used to drive that old hearse with a skydiving trophy as a hood ornament to all the meets...was that you Woody or was that Bobby's? Blue Skies...Black Death RayQuote

Great story. Not to take anything away from it, but back in the early 70's, Mr. Joe Biederbecke (sp?), known as Mr. B, made 65 jumps on his 65th birthday, experiencing a total on something like his 53rd jump...but it didn't stop him. This took place in Midland, North Carolina, which was the Charlotte Skydiver's DZ at the time.

Strange to come across posts about the crash in '78...Few comments. Aircraft was carrying 10-way speed star competitors...not 8-way teams. It was an elevator cable that jammed not the rudder cable(s). The aircraft did rotate, climbed steeply, stalled dropping left wing, then leveling out as pilot stomped in right rudder before it pancaked into corn field on the airport. Believe 12 persons ended up in Richmond Memorial Hospital...there were certainly more than one injured. A jumper from Utah by the door exited the plane when it stalled fearing it would go in on its side an likely cartwheel into oblivion. He hit the earth and so did the aircraft which almost slid over him...he was next to the exit door when he & the aircraft came to a stop and everyone started piling out. Dennis Murphy was sitting with back to starboard bulkhead separating pilot area from 'passenger' area. Aircraft impacted with both engines at full power, causing both to separate. Right engine spun under belly of aircraft with prop blade coming up through the floor, grabbing Murphy's jumpsuit leg fabric and pinning him upside down to the bulkhead. He had to cut his jumpsuit to be released (without injury and to be able to continue jumping at the meet). That blade nearly impalled another jumper on AIRLINE, who a second before leaned forward and out of path of prop blade reaching to put on his helmet when he realized they were going in. On impact, left engine's hub spun into pilot's side of fuseledge, bounced off and then sent a prop blade slicing through mail door and into back of R Catlette, who sustained the most serious injuries of the accident. Aircraft should have never rotated as it should have been shut down when pilot couldn't push yoke forward (which he was trying...repeatedly)...however, since it did rotate...pilot probably saved all by regaining lift on stalled wing and leveling aircraft before impact. The aircraft was reportedly one of Branch's (Chief Pilot at Nationals) and reportedly the only uninsured jump aircraft at meet (?) An AD Notice resulted from accident...apparently first issued in several years for DC3/C47's Next time I jumped that had Murphy on the same load, my main malfunctioned.

Sad news and a terrible tragedy. Enjoy life while you have it...fly while you still have your wings. My condolances to his family and others who knew him. RWCAT