| We were flying in a twin engine Islander aircraft | | | | I tried spitting but it did not give me a clue so I |
| hoping to skydive from 12,000ft, at about 4,500ft | | | | looked around for any signs of smoke, no fires no |
| we noticed that we were no longer climbing | | | | chimney smoke.I was pretty sure I was heading |
| although we were still heading away from the | | | | into wind and I had time and enough altitude to |
| drop zone; I looked back in the direction of the | | | | make one final check I went into fairly deep |
| drop zone and could see some huge black clouds | | | | brakes and made some gentle turns, the ground |
| rapidly building. It was not looking that good and | | | | speed went up straight away which confirmed |
| we thought we might get a call for a low climb | | | | that my original heading was correct. |
| out. | | | | We all made a safe landing in some fields, and the |
| I checked my altimeter and the aircraft was now | | | | pilot managed to fly the aircraft safely back to |
| down to 4,000 ft I spoke to my friend Dave and | | | | the drop zone. One of the other jumpers came |
| said I can’t see what the problem is, almost | | | | up to me and said I was following you because I |
| immediately the left hand engine shut down and | | | | could not see which direction to land in, I laughed |
| the pilot shouted get out. This was a real aircraft | | | | and told him that I doubted my own judgement |
| emergency so you don’t hang around you | | | | as well. |
| just get out of the aircraft as quickly as possible. | | | | With the use of GPS we have become used to |
| The door was opened in a couple of seconds | | | | getting a good spot over the drop zone, |
| followed by people leaving the aircraft in a real | | | | sometimes we perhaps become a bit complacent |
| hurry as Dave and I went for the door one of | | | | in expecting to be over the right spot every |
| the jumpers was blocking the isle calling to the | | | | time.There are always lessons to be learned to |
| pilot “what’s wrong” the pilot did not | | | | ensure the best chances of reducing injury or |
| answer he just glared angrily and shook his finger | | | | worse, so what could we have done to have |
| pointing to the lame engine. | | | | made this incident safer? |
| We almost had to push this guy out of the | | | | We could not predict this engine failure however |
| aircraft; I just could not believe that someone | | | | we could have made thing safer by just following |
| would question an experienced pilots command to | | | | some simple rules.On this occasion we should |
| leave the aircraft.Dave and I exited last we took | | | | have paid more attention to the weather |
| a 2 way straight out of the door, with all the | | | | conditions in particular to the wind direction. When |
| excitement of a real aircraft emergency we had | | | | you can see a wind sock it is easy to judge the |
| no time to look where we were in relation to the | | | | direction for landing however with no reference to |
| drop zone. | | | | wind direction things can become more difficult. |
| When we deployed our parachutes we could see | | | | Also when a pilot gives you an order you need to |
| that we had no chance of making it back to the | | | | take immediate action, however you should still |
| drop zone. I had a quick look around and could | | | | try to be aware of your surroundings and the |
| see one of the jumpers flying in the opposite | | | | buildings and hazards that exist around the drop |
| direction, I began to question myself as there are | | | | zone. If you are not familiar with the drop zone |
| two airfields and they both look very similar. I | | | | always ask for a briefing and look at the |
| soon realised that he was flying in the wrong | | | | photograph of the drop zone so that you are |
| direction. | | | | familiar with the area and hazards. |
| I still could not see any wind socks because of | | | | I have a little check that I make on sunny days, I |
| the distance we were away from the drop zone. | | | | check the position of the sun against the wind |
| Suddenly my mind seemed to be playing tricks | | | | direction and providing the sun is not directly |
| with me and I began to question the direction for | | | | overhead you can use it in most situations to get |
| landing, I had checked it earlier in the day but with | | | | an into wind landing even with a bad spot. |
| no wind sock I began to doubt myself. | | | | |