Near midair collision between small aircraft and a parachutist. Parachute jumping activity.

Attributes
ACN	217604
Time
Date	199208
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mae
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fat tower : sna
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 105 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	217604
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 50 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approximately 4 NM southeast of madera airport requested switch to advisory frequency. Immediately contacted madera unicom for TA's and runway in use. (No response). I was cruising at 2500 MSL intending to check wind tee prior to entering pattern. At that point, heard parachute jumping in progress and saw skydiver approximately 300 ft above me (chute open). I applied full power to clear jump area and turned to my 45 degree entry west of field. On landing the jump pilot questioned me about the incident. I was on fresno departure frequency when parachute jumping was announced on advisory frequency. (Normally ATC announces jumping in progress, although I was not aware of any ATC announcement that flight). To prevent future problems I plan to contact FSS for NOTAMS, remain well clear of jump area and request change to advisory frequency as soon as practical.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC BTWN SMA AND A PARACHUTIST. PARACHUTE JUMPING ACTIVITY.

Narrative: APPROX 4 NM SE OF MADERA ARPT REQUESTED SWITCH TO ADVISORY FREQ. IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MADERA UNICOM FOR TA'S AND RWY IN USE. (NO RESPONSE). I WAS CRUISING AT 2500 MSL INTENDING TO CHK WIND TEE PRIOR TO ENTERING PATTERN. AT THAT POINT, HEARD PARACHUTE JUMPING IN PROGRESS AND SAW SKYDIVER APPROX 300 FT ABOVE ME (CHUTE OPEN). I APPLIED FULL PWR TO CLR JUMP AREA AND TURNED TO MY 45 DEG ENTRY W OF FIELD. ON LNDG THE JUMP PLT QUESTIONED ME ABOUT THE INCIDENT. I WAS ON FRESNO DEP FREQ WHEN PARACHUTE JUMPING WAS ANNOUNCED ON ADVISORY FREQ. (NORMALLY ATC ANNOUNCES JUMPING IN PROGRESS, ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY ATC ANNOUNCEMENT THAT FLT). TO PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS I PLAN TO CONTACT FSS FOR NOTAMS, REMAIN WELL CLR OF JUMP AREA AND REQUEST CHANGE TO ADVISORY FREQ AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.

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.