Small aircraft pilot suddenly sees four skydivers in front of him. Takes evasive action.

Attributes
ACN	147244
Time
Date	199006
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 57m
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 115 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	147244
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 30 vertical : 150
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departed twinkletown, ms, airport after receiving WX briefing and requesting NOTAMS for 57M and M08 (bolivar). After landing at 57M to pick up a passenger was in level flight en route to M08 when 4 parachutists appeared. I made an evasive turn. Following this the jump plane came and buzzed me getting to within I estimated 30 ft. After landing at M08 another call to FSS revealed a NOTAM was in effect from 0800 onward. Both FSS contacts were at mkl (jackson, tn). Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter states he called not only FSS but also talked to an FAA representative when he returned to home airport. FAA rep suggested he call FSDO and file a report which he did. FAA rep indicated there is a new grass strip airport on the route and that is where the jumping occurs. Reporter feels the jump plane was trying to protect the jumpers and in essence chase the 'intruder' out of the area. He circled about 3 times. Reporter was really scared.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT SUDDENLY SEES FOUR SKYDIVERS IN FRONT OF HIM. TAKES EVASIVE ACTION.

Narrative: DEPARTED TWINKLETOWN, MS, ARPT AFTER RECEIVING WX BRIEFING AND REQUESTING NOTAMS FOR 57M AND M08 (BOLIVAR). AFTER LNDG AT 57M TO PICK UP A PAX WAS IN LEVEL FLT ENRTE TO M08 WHEN 4 PARACHUTISTS APPEARED. I MADE AN EVASIVE TURN. FOLLOWING THIS THE JUMP PLANE CAME AND BUZZED ME GETTING TO WITHIN I ESTIMATED 30 FT. AFTER LNDG AT M08 ANOTHER CALL TO FSS REVEALED A NOTAM WAS IN EFFECT FROM 0800 ONWARD. BOTH FSS CONTACTS WERE AT MKL (JACKSON, TN). CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATES HE CALLED NOT ONLY FSS BUT ALSO TALKED TO AN FAA REPRESENTATIVE WHEN HE RETURNED TO HOME ARPT. FAA REP SUGGESTED HE CALL FSDO AND FILE A RPT WHICH HE DID. FAA REP INDICATED THERE IS A NEW GRASS STRIP ARPT ON THE RTE AND THAT IS WHERE THE JUMPING OCCURS. RPTR FEELS THE JUMP PLANE WAS TRYING TO PROTECT THE JUMPERS AND IN ESSENCE CHASE THE 'INTRUDER' OUT OF THE AREA. HE CIRCLED ABOUT 3 TIMES. RPTR WAS REALLY SCARED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.