The pilot of a C402 had an instructor and student skydiver jump into a layer of clouds.

Attributes
ACN	436844
Time
Date	199905
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hdh.airport
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 402/402C/B379 Businessliner/Utiliner
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 130
ASRS Report	436844
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

A student skydiver jumped from the C402A with his instructor. Prior to his jump he was briefed by his instructor not to go near clouds and to remain VFR at all times. There were a few clouds at 4500 ft AGL. Otherwise, the sky was clear. During the free-fall, the student had some problems remaining stable. The instructor stayed with the student. Unfortunately, the student opened his parachute a little late and went into some clouds. His instructor also went into the same clouds since he needed to stay with his student to ensure safety. (The plan was for the student to open well above the clouds and fly his parachute in VFR conditions.) the student was debriefed and told of his error. The student explained that he lost track of the skydive and that opening up his parachute in clouds was unintentional. The student agreed to additional ground instruction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE PLT OF A C402 HAD AN INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT SKYDIVER JUMP INTO A LAYER OF CLOUDS.

Narrative: A STUDENT SKYDIVER JUMPED FROM THE C402A WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR. PRIOR TO HIS JUMP HE WAS BRIEFED BY HIS INSTRUCTOR NOT TO GO NEAR CLOUDS AND TO REMAIN VFR AT ALL TIMES. THERE WERE A FEW CLOUDS AT 4500 FT AGL. OTHERWISE, THE SKY WAS CLR. DURING THE FREE-FALL, THE STUDENT HAD SOME PROBS REMAINING STABLE. THE INSTRUCTOR STAYED WITH THE STUDENT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE STUDENT OPENED HIS PARACHUTE A LITTLE LATE AND WENT INTO SOME CLOUDS. HIS INSTRUCTOR ALSO WENT INTO THE SAME CLOUDS SINCE HE NEEDED TO STAY WITH HIS STUDENT TO ENSURE SAFETY. (THE PLAN WAS FOR THE STUDENT TO OPEN WELL ABOVE THE CLOUDS AND FLY HIS PARACHUTE IN VFR CONDITIONS.) THE STUDENT WAS DEBRIEFED AND TOLD OF HIS ERROR. THE STUDENT EXPLAINED THAT HE LOST TRACK OF THE SKYDIVE AND THAT OPENING UP HIS PARACHUTE IN CLOUDS WAS UNINTENTIONAL. THE STUDENT AGREED TO ADDITIONAL GND INSTRUCTION.

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.