Skydiver and pilot died 'after safety mix up'

A mix up over where it was safe for parachutists and glider pilots to jump and fly at their airfield could have led to the deaths of two men, an British inquest heard today.

Skydiver Phillip Cheasley, 24, and glider pilot Jon Crew, 69, both died of multiple injuries after the parachutist smashed into the wing of the aircraft about 2,000 feet above Hinton-in-the-Hedges airfield in Northamptonshire, Britain on June 1 last year.

On the first day of the inquest, Northamptonshire coroner Anne Pember told the jury that officials from the gliding and parachuting organisations both used the airfield at the same time and agreed procedures between them.

But there appeared to be differences in the so-called “cone of operation” for safe jumps and flying, she told the hearing at Northampton General Hospital.

“Both organisations believed they were operating in accordance with agreed procedures.

"However, each had a different interpretation of the exact parameters to be used,” she said.

The jury heard that both Mr Cheasley, of Colliers Wood, south London, who worked for the Forensic Science Service, and Mr Crew, from the Templar area of Oxford, were experienced in the air.

On the day of the accident, Mr Crew took off at about 1.50pm and climbed to 2,000 feet above the airfield near Brackley before releasing his tow rope.

About 10,000 feet above the pilot, Mr Cheasley and two friends were preparing to skydive in formation and had been given the all clear for their free-fall.

The 12,000ft jump would have seen the three friends plummet at about 110mph before opening their chutes at around 3,000 feet.

As they were about to jump, however, the drop zone controller marshalling operations on the ground noticed Mr Crew’s glider approaching from the north.

He was told to leave the airspace but there was no response.

The jump master on the plane, who was in charge of all parachutists, was also radioed to halt all jumps, but again there was no reply.

Mrs Pember said: “Tragically, it was at this time that Philip Cheasley, having exited the aircraft and done some formation work, separated from his friends in preparation for chute deployment.

“He collided with the wing of Mr Crew’s glider, resulting in fatal injuries to both.”