Lots of discussion over on the COPA site.designrs wrote:Thanks Eddie. Very interesting photo in that article showing what happens after a chute deployment. It ain't pretty, but it sure looks a lot better than some of the recent fatal crash photos that I have seen. Knowing that someone walked away with only minor injuries is even better!
Pretty much the most damage that's been seen in a pull, and speculation as to why. Looks like substantial trees may have been impacted on the way down.
The engine was apparently running, and that may have increased the vertical descent speed by not allowing the canopy to fully fill.
For those that worry about a plane under canopy injuring or killing someone, sure - its possible. But it's been pointed out that coming down vertically at 1700 fpm has orders of magnitude less kinetic energy than one still flying at 60k - 70k, much less one screaming down in a graveyard spiral.
