Death in Texas

[Brokeneagle 0]

I just heard some terrible news- a friend, Michelle Thibedeau, has apparently been killed in a skydiving accident in Texas. She just moved there last week with her children for a new job, raise and promotion... I heard there were two planes, a Twin Otter and another type involved in the jump itself, that there was a problem with the exit, and somehow the prop of one of the planes was also involved. Please, everyone, remember our fallen comrade in your prayers, and their children... I may not get a chance to pay my respects, her parents will probably be having her funeral in Michigan, but I will be there in spirit, we must all look out for each other... Any Texas jumpers, Dallas area, Skydive Texas, what happened with Michelle?

[pyke 0]

It is bad enough when a comrade falls in the sport, but it is infinitely worse when it is someone closely known.
My heart goes out to the family and the children left behind.
Brokeneagle, my deepest sympathy. My thoughts are with you.
Try not to let this "break" you even more
Kia Kaha (stay strong in NZ Maori) and high spirits.
Kia Kaha,
Pyke
NZPF A-2584

[airann 1]

I am so sorry for the biological family and skydiving family it is always tragic to lose someone.
...And the heavens opened wide....
Clear Blue and Extra Alt,
AirAnn
http://www.AirAnn.com

[ramon 0]

This what I heard, but could have many errors due to (word of mouth etc)
There was a boogie in San Marcos, TX. There were two airplanes (the DZs otter and a King Air).
3rd party rumor has it that the deceased (a girl from Atlanta??? I don't know) left the otter and collided with the prop of the King air. The King air was able to land safely.
I know nothing else why when, or who.....
very very sad..
BSBD
ramon

[Brokeneagle 0]

Ramon, thank you, yes, Michelle was from Atlanta- that's the confirmation I was looking for. Is there anyone else out there that can give us any info? We are all very shocked and saddened as we have known her and her family for many years and jumped together; she was a very heads-up jumper normally and jumped with an RW team here in the G.S.L.- her team took 4th place?? this year, just two weeks ago- we appreciate the help, we will plan a memorial jump for her here... thank you again for your help, Ramon. Blue skies, everybody, even in the darkness.....
Brokeneagle. (only in body- never in spirit)

[Iflyme 0]

My condolences to everyone who knew Michelle...

[Zennie 0]

My condolences to all her family and friends, as well as everyone at the DZ.
------------
Blue Skies!
Zennie

[MC208B 0]

gosh, what a terrible thing to happen, my thoughts to the jumpers family, friends and all skydivers out there. Mike

[phastasphuk 0]

...my next jump will be in memory of Michelle...my condolences to her family and friends...
chris
How would you like too stick with me
How much do you love to freefall

[skymedic 0]

my condelences to the family and her fellow skydivers...

[HotLoad 0]

I don't know how to quantify what happened at Skydive San Marcos, I haven't even made sense of what happened yesterday morning. I was there, however, I was not on the load on which Michelle lost her life. The only reason I am even writing is so that you all, being members of the skydiving community, deserve to know the truth about the accident and not a bunch heresy and speculation. I would first like to extend my condolences to all of Michelle's friends and family. The accident happened as a result of an attempted 30-way, using King Air and a Twin Otter. The King Air was above the Otter, I'm told the King Air was to be 100ft above, 100ft behind, and 50ft horizontal from the Otter. As jumpers were exiting the King Air, it gained airspeed as the pilot maintained his altitude. At some point, the King Air overtook the Otter. My guess is that neither pilot saw what was going on until it was too late. Michelle exited with the others in the King Air and tracked down, striking the right side windshield and on through the prop and the main landing gear strut. The man flying camera then tracked down to her and pulled her reserve. It never fully inflated due to gashes it received from the prop. He followed her down, the pilot feathered the right engine and brought the Otter in. The dropzone was immediately shut down, and Phil, the DZO, called for all experienced jumpers to meet in the packing room. He notified everyone, and asked that it not leave the room. He did not want it to get out to whuffos and students what had happened, and certainly wanted to keep the media out. I feel that everyone involved acted very bravely and appropriately, given the circumstances. A fellow jumper from the local dz was two slots in front of Michelle said that he never saw, or felt anything from the Otter. The accident is truly a tragedy, and I send out my best wishes to everyone involved.

[Kirils 1]

My prayers are with you and Michelle's family.
Kirils
Skydiving is not a static excercise with discrete predictability...

[airann 1]

It is true that non skydivers would look upon this differently as well as students. It is very wise of the DZO from San Marcus to do what he did. The media would also have a field day with this kind tragic news, of course.

Good job on the camera mans part, I know he must be suffering as well as, the rest of the group and family. Had things been different we would be knowing his name, but the damaged canopy and previous events had other plans for her. But I bet he really tried his best to help her. Good Man. Whoever you are I would fly with you any day.
Never take your fellow skydiver for granted. I love all of my DZ family (at all of my current DZs) and I know that they love me. For that I am grateful.
I am AirAnn, I try to reach out to women skydivers and help if I can. I am starting an AirAnn Tuition Trust for women who want to skydive, but cant afford it. You would be suprised at what I can get done.
But at this moment, if there is anything I can do for the family or friends, please do not hesitate to contact me. Myself and committee will be all over it, immediately.
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all,
Clear Blue and Extra Alt,
AirAnn
http://www.AirAnn.com

[Pammi 0]

My condolences to her family and friends also. What a terrible tragedy :(
"The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live."
http://trak.to/skydivechick

[Zennie 0]

I'm with Ann. Amazing heads-up work by the camera guy.
If that were me, I probably would have brain locked from the shock of what just happened. Then again, it never ceases to amaze me what people do when in situations like that... you just sort of go into auto-pilot mode. It's almost surreal.
In any event, this is a terrible tragedy. Thanks HotLoad, for the additional info, send our sympathies to everyone at SDSM.
------------
Blue Skies!
Zennie

[Deleted 0]

Hotload...thank you so much for the information. Those of us here in and around Atlanta are in shock. Information has been sporadic so many people have been left wondering exactly what happened and why. When we got word at Skydive Atlanta yesterday (Sun) there were many tears and broken hearts. Michele has touched so many lives and imparted to each her love for skydiving that it didn't take long for someone to conclude that she died doing what she loved...skydiving.
If anyone has any idea who the camera guy is that did all he could for Michele, please thank him for all of us here who could only feel our loss. I know that in doing so it could have also cost him his life...THANK YOU. I'm sure everyone in Texas was shaken by this tragic accident...Thanks to everyone who befriended Michele on her recent move and accepted her as a talented skydiver and hopefully a new friend.
A Memorial Dive is being planned by her home DZ, Skydive Atlanta, on Saturday, June 2. Those who knew Michele are encouraged to contact the DZ 1-800-276-DIVE and join in the tribute.

[Iflyme 0]

Thanks, Hotload, for sharing your knowledge of this terribel tradgedy with us... I had several friends do exactly the same type of big-way formation load just 2 weekends back with about the same mumber of jumpers and the same two planes ... sometimes you just can't anticipate all the variables -- but the rest of us are wiser now that we've learned from you what happened to Michelle...

[harro 0]

Very sorry to hear that you have lost such a valued member of your community. I hope that her family and freinds are well and realise that she will be with all of you for the rest of your lives.
Love/Peace/Freedom!
Freemind, freesky, freebeer, freefly

[flyingferret 0]

I just received this, thought it might help.
On Sunday May the 27th we are sad to say we lost another Family member.
While doing a 30 way formation load a female jumper exited a King Air next
to last of nine jumpers the other eight avoided the Otter. For what ever
reason the deceased was unable to circumvent the impact with the second
Aircraft and was pronounced at the seen. After an FAA investigation they
found no fault in the pilots of either Aircraft and have labeled it an
accident. Our deepest sympathy to all friends and family.
Phillip Chappell
Skydive San Marcos
Malachi

[Deleted 0]

Please explain if the otter was that close how Michele was supposed to avoid it?

[ramon 0]

That post was taken from the newsgroups. It is from the DZO of said drop zone.
Please take with a grain of salt. I can't imagine the FAA investigating something that quickly.
BSBD

[Deleted 0]

My heart goes out to Michelle's family and friends. Know that even those who did not know her will miss her.
BSBD

[Deleted 0]

I left the DZ around 1400, and from the information I'd received through sources other than the DZO, the FAA investigator was enroute to the DZ. It is entirely possible that he arrived, took statements from both pilots (who were still there when I left) gave the DZ an unofficial opinion of how the ruling would go, and then left.
Of course the FAA will label it an ACCIDENT, based on the damage that occured to life and airframe.
Having been there, and on the load, it was nobody's fault.
Remember, it's never ONE big thing that causes a problem, it's a bunch of little things.

[Donna 0]

Just to expand on the "accident" meaning by the FAA.
The following is from the definitions section of NTSB Section 830 -
which is used by the FAA for accident/incident reports.
"Aircraft accident" means an occurrence associated with the operation of an
aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with
the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which any
person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives
substantial damage.
"Incident" means an occurrence other than an accident, associated with the
operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of
operations.
So accident does not mean that no one was found at fault. It is just a category the FAA uses.
My heart goes out to Michelle and her family and all her friends. My hats off to the camera person who tried to help.
Blue 1111,
D

[Deleted 0]

It will be the NTSB who decides not the FAA. I can't understand how you can say no one was to blame. It was wrong in the first place to have a low wing AC behind and above a high winger. That made it a lock that the pilots could not see each other if the King crept up on the otter. Bad planning from the start.
The other mistake is to have a King Air that flies sloppy at 95 knots behind an Otter that can fly slow as hell. Let the King set the pace is the only thing that makes sense.