Death in Texas

[Dutchboy 0]

Well anonymous, whoever you are. I've kept quiet about this till now. I wasn't there to see what happened. But as a skydiver, pilot, and physicist I can tell you that if the King Air pilot was doing the right thing this accident could not have happened. Flying in formation is demanding on a pilot. It is also a visual maneuver performed by reference to other aircraft. Even if there was someone in the copilot seat of the otter he would have been unable to see the king air advancing until it was too late. Pilots who are in over their heads tend to fixate on instruments instead of looking outside the plane.
Was the king air pilot responsible. Yes, he was. The FAA will tell you he is responsible for everything he drops from the plane including people. Does that mean that he is completely to blame for this accident. No. Ultimately, we all decide to get out of the plane. If you are exiting 8th out of 9 for a big way are you going to look at where you are before you follow the person in front of you out the door. Probably not. Will the pilot lose his license. It's certainly possible.
Is ascertaining blame a useful thing. No, it is not. However, as others have said we want to do everything we can to make sure something like this doesn't happen again. So the real question is this: How could a jump like this be done more safely in the future.
My opinion (and it is only that) is that the following would be important factors for safely performing this jump.
1. Pilots with both jump and formation flying experience
2. Flying at the same altitude
3. Flying in visual reference to the other aircraft
4. A person (pref another pilot) in copilots seat to avoid overworking the pilot
You can flame me if you feel the need. You can attack my opinions above, but let's not lose focus on both remembering Michelle and figuring out how to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
The Dutchboy
http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

[Deleted 0]

FlyingFerret and Annonymous...may I share the poems at the memorial?
____________________________________________________________
I don't mind if you would like to share the poem. It brings me great comfort and I hope it brings others comfort, too.

[ramon 0]

Well said.
bloo skies
ramon

[freefallfreak 0]

I know/knew Michelle Thibideau. I just read this thread...and I cried...for her friends, her family, her children, her life...and for me - cause I will never again get to talk/tease her...she brought laughter and a smile to me even on the days that I couldn't jump - and I will miss her terribly...
FFF

[mouth 0]

Now that everyone seems to have calmed down some, that is enough placing blame. Please don't be quick to judge the pilots (even if the investigation does find fault) because I can't imagine either of them willfully acting in a manner that they thought would cause harm to a fellow skydiver. They may not have thought out every angle for the jump, but I can't imagine them planning for this to happen. I'm sure they will both live with this for the rest of their lives.
Nobody who knew Michele could have wished her harm. None of this will bring Michele back. Lets take the information that is learned from her death, apply it to accepted practices, develop a safer way to launch larger formations, and then remember Michele in a positive light.
In the meantime...let's all be more conscious of what is going on around us. Check everything...everytime. Skydiving in not the safest sport by far but we can make it safer if we learn from our mistakes.
But most of all remember that we are not promised tomorrow so take advantage of today.

[Deleted 0]

I am a co-worker of Michele's. She was well loved and respected here. Part of the tragedy is that she had just taken a promotion to move to Texas. Her life was definitely headed in a good direction. I am honored to have spent what time I did with such a dynamic individual. Ironically, since most of us had just said our goodbyes, we were lucky enough to have recent closure.
I know some people have been disturbed by the inquiring posts that are discussing "what went wrong". Michele worked in quality assurance and I can tell you that she would have been trying to find the Root Cause and Corrective Actions so that this kind of thing could never happen again. Kicking it around is how we find closure sometimes. There seems to be something in the human mind at times like these that wants all the details. To somehow get their arms around the whole thing by knowing as much as possible. Please try to be tolerant of folks just wanting to find out how something this tragic could have happened, especially given how careful we are about jumping.
I understand that there will be a memorial jump this Saturday, at sundown, at her old DZ. There will also be services at a Funeral Home in Cartersville at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 5. Both Michele and her children will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Blue skies and soft landings,
Ted

[Deleted 0]

Quote

Kicking it around is how we find closure sometimes. There seems to be something in the human mind at times like these that wants all the details. To somehow get their arms around the whole thing by knowing as much as possible.

Well said and very true.

[Deleted 0]

Well, apparently it's not recognizing me today, but hey, at least the forums are up! That was me...
Pam

[Deleted 0]

Hey,
Here is the info we have to date;
Address for donations can be sent to;
Thibaudeau Children
c/o Skydive Atlanta
2333 Delray Road
Thomaston, GA 30286
At this time we know the funeral will be held Tuesday June 5th, 2:00 in Cartersville. Specific directions, funeral home name etc, will be distributed this evening.
Please feel free to join us in Thomaston for a skydiving Memorial. You do not have to be a skydiver or make a skydive, just spend a few minutes looking into a portion of Michelles life that she enjoyed so much. Directions can be found on www.skydiveatlanta.com
Thanks,
Craig

[Deleted 0]

Here's the scoop on the fatality in San
Marcos last Sunday. I wasn't there and it was a new person at the DZ.
Michele Thibaudeau was from Cartersville, GA and had around 850 jumps.
They were flying a formation load with the Otter and a King air. The king
was supposed to be trail plane but passed the otter on jump run. When they
went she caught the prop of the otter. The engine on the Otter was destroyed but it landed safely. I didn't know
this lady but thought I would pass this on if any of you did. May she rest
in peace. And all of you that are still jumping may you have blue skies and
safe dives. Live each day to it's fullest it may be our last.

[Dutchboy 0]

Last night we had a series of memorial jumps and a short memorial service for Michelle at Skydive Atlanta. By my estimate, there were well over 120 people who came out. We did four Otter loads in honor of Michelle. The final load was a 20-way identical to Michelle's last jump (minus the 10-way in the middle).
All of her children, her parents, and several of her coworkers were present. Michelle will be missed, but not forgotten.
The Dutchboy
http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

[mouth 0]

Michele's Memorial service was one of the most touching things I've even witnessed or participated in. If only everyone could have seen the people gathered from far and near...everyone with one intention, to honor Michele. Bystanders were clapping over formations, the loads gathered and did dirt dives after landing symbolizing the missing man formation, tears flowed, laughter rang out. Her family appeared to have gained some knowledge of why Michele loved skydiving so much. I hope they also realized just how much we all loved Michele.
For any of you head downers just imagine a load of freeflyers actually pulling off a flawless RW dive. Michele was there in spirit and I'm sure she was laughing her head off at all of us.
On the last load they scattered rose petals and a picture of Michele and I taken just before she left for Texas. The video was very touching and a fitting way to send Michele on her way because in that picture she was excited and happy which is how I want to remember her.
I also had the opportunity to meet a wonderful person...the camera guy who chased Michele down after the impact with the plane and deployed her reserve chute. You are a wonderful person to have risked yourself for Michele and then to drive half way across the US just to be with us for the Memorial Service.
Thank you again and "You're awesome!!" Actually I think skydivers are mostly wonderful people and I told many of them just that yesterday.

[freefallfreak 0]

Lisa,
Thank you very much. I don't know who the camera man was but thank you to him, too.
FFF

[Dutchboy 0]

The camera guy's name was Tony. He did a great thing by chasing her and pulling her reserve.
If you think you can handle reading it the NTSB report is here http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20010601X01046&key=1
The Dutchboy
http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

[freefallfreak 0]

Dutchboy,
I will always be proud of the cameraman, Tony, as he did something couragous. I just can't find the same courage to read that NTSB report. And I pray to the highest Gods that somewhere, somehow, Michelle is smiling down on us and enjoying her new freedom from this damned life and these mortal shells we call human bodies. Again, thanks Tony, whoever you are. You did a great thing.
FFF

[Dutchboy 0]

One of the more comforting things in the report is that it was instantaneous and she didn't suffer. Chasing her down and pulling her reserve just in case was a very selfless thing for Tony to do. Based on what I've heard from her coworkers, Michelle was a Christian and is smiling down on us now.
The Dutchboy
http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

[Skycam3 0]

I'm not sure where to start on this...I pulled Michele's reserve. There are some that know who I am, most don't. In this case it didn't save a life, but mabey it could have. Remember that if you see one of our own in trouble in freefall. I have had the pleasure of meeting Michele's friends at Skydive Atlanta and they are what skydiving is all about. We play in a dangerous sport and too often the price is too high, we MUST look out for one another. To all of Michele's friends and family-I will live with her death for the rest of my life and I am sad that I never knew her. All the stories I heard about her helped me to understand her life though. You want to know something...I think that she would have chased me. To everyone at Skydive Atlanta-Thank you for inviting me to Michele's memorial. It was a jump that I'll never forget...and yes...Freaks CAN bellyfly. It was a beautiful Texas 20 way star flown with one slot open. That was the formation that we were supposed to see the first time around. Blue Skies forever T-

[harro 0]

I have been keeping an eye on this forum over the last few days and no matter who's fault it is, one of our own is gone. i have leanrt alot out of this as well. We are all family, from the pilots to the jumpers, we all share the same sky and we should all be relieved that no one else lost there life in that jump!
I didn't know Michelle Thibedeau but I can say that we shared the same love and if her love for this sport is as great as mine, I bet she would be looking around heaven for an exit point
Forever in mind, forever in peace!
Freemind, freesky, freebeer, freefly

[Iflyme 0]

Skycam3 - although I don't know you, you have earned my respect... thank you for trying to help Michele. Knowing that my skydiving brothers and sisters will literaly go to the ends of the earth to help each other makes me feel ... (hard to find the right words here) ... better, somehow.
Frank

[mccordia 74]

Although I almost never know any of the people who experience (fatal)skydiving incidents, news like this always hits me pretty hard.
My condolences to all friends and family of Michelle, and my deepest respect for the cameraman who chased her down...
Jarno
"Why do Kamikazi Pilots wear helmets?"

[mccordia 74]

I would like to apologize for the signature below my previous post in this tread.
It's something I had fergotten about when I posted this message, and I was kind of shocked to see it below my message.
If possible, could one of the moderators please remove it from my post?
I feel it makes fun (in a bad way) of a subject I take real serious.
Sincerely,
Jarno

[Billy 0]

Hay,,,
Sounds like ya'll had a nice goodbye,, Glad the family was all able ta be there too,, so they could see the kinda people ya'll are and why Michelle loved the sport,, Glad Tony could be there,,
Thanks for sharing,,
Blue Skies,, soft landings, and Sweet Dreams
Billy

[Brokeneagle 0]

Tony, I am so glad you came out to be with us for Michele's memorial... It gave us all a chance to thank you in person for your selfless bravery. We are honored to have met you and I think you know you have a home here whenever you wish to visit; there are many of us who would volunteer to have you stay in their homes. I hope we will remain friends for many years- and you should watch the girls grow up... we all care deeply about each other in this dangerous sport we love- may we all have your courage if the time ever came to need it... you have earned your place in heaven, Tony... and we thank you from the deepness of our souls...
Faye.

[Albatross 0]

Like most of you I did not know Michelle either but was with a few people from Texas when this accident was reported and they were crushed. It was then that I realized why someone like Tony takes the risk to pull her reserve and we all search for a reason for the accident and all feel the need to be with each other. We are a big family. It is like hearing that a cousin you didn't know died. In some way we are all just a few degrees of separation from each other. We need closure so that we can move on. Tony the beer is on me if you come to Perris. Michelle's friends, family and loved ones God bless and protect you.
Ready, Set, GOOOOOOO
Albatross

[sangiro 25]

Quote

There are some that know who I am, most don't.

I don't. But I hope I someday will. Thanks for posting.
Safe swoops
Sangiro