Parachute eases impact in 'Sconset plane crash
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
Atwo-passenger Cirrus model SR20 airplane registered to Thomas Jackson with a 6 Prospect St. address crashed near the Coast Guard LORAN station on Low Beach Road at approximately 8:30 Friday night. Though the plane was badly damaged and the pilot was reported to be seriously injured, his wife, who officials said was six months pregnant, was not badly hurt. The pilot was unconscious when emergency teams arrived and had to be removed from the plane and placed on a backboard, but his wife was conscious and able to leave the craft on her own.

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Thomas Jackson's Cirrus SR20 is transported along Morey Lane in 'Sconset Monday morning. The plane was brought to a hanger at Nantucket Memorial Airport, as the FAA continues its investigation.

"They came down hard, but the pregnancy seems fine," said Deputy Police Chief Charles Gibson, who added that the couple were at Nantucket Cottage Hospital overnight on Friday and flown to Massachusetts General Hospital on Saturday morning.

The event could have been even more serious if the plane had not been equipped with a parachute that helped to ease the descent. According to Airport Manager Al Peterson, Jackson flew into Nantucket using visual rules but when the weather worsened and visibility dropped he was in contact with the airport tower and was offered the opportunity to make an instrument landing. Peterson said in order to do that a pilot must be qualified and his plane must be equipped for an instrument approach. According to Gibson and Fire Chief Mark McDougall, Jackson was not an instrument-rated pilot.

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent The plane came down hard in a 'Sconset field. Remnants of the red parachute can be seen near the nose of the plane.

Peterson said Jackson declined an instrument landing and the tower transferred him back to communications with Cape Approach Control. Soon after that the weather deteriorated further and darkness set in. Peterson said Jackson declared an emergency and deployed his plane's parachute.

"There is nothing to have reference to unless you are on instruments," Peterson said of the flight and landing conditions.

The airport closed for safety purposes until tower personnel knew the plane was on the ground. According to McDougall, the parachute collided with the LORAN tower support cables as the plane came down, and it appears the plane's tail also struck the cable because it was broken off the craft when emergency crews and police got to the scene. McDougall said the plane sustained extensive damage and was leaking fuel. Fire retardant foam was sprayed on the plane while the two passengers were taken to an ambulance. The scene was cleared at about 10 p.m., said McDougall.

The Cirrus SR20 contains state-of-the-art safety features including the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System which is considered a final level of protection. The system is made by Ballistic Recovery Systems which has a contract with Cirrus Design Corporation.

The crash is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. The plane was removed from the Low Beach Road area Monday morning and is at a hangar at the airport where it will be inspected by officials. According to Holly Baker, an FAA spokesperson, the FAA has custody of the communications tape involving Jackson and will hold it until

the investigation ends. I