The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at about 1224 Central time. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. The 12 parachutists who exited the airplane were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The airplane had climbed to about 11,000 feet msl and was approaching the drop zone. Five parachutists were hanging onto the outside of the airplane; the others were ready to jump when they heard the airplane’s stall warning system. The airplane then suddenly rolled and the 12 parachutists successfully exited. The pilot did not exit the airplane. Several witnesses reported seeing the airplane descending in an inverted attitude before entering a near-vertical dive.
