PA-18/19 Super Cub
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 12; Flight Crew Total 1750; Flight Crew Type 55
Confusion; Distraction; Workload; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
Northeast bound over 33S airport.  5 miles from the airport tuned in 122.8 which is 33S frequency.  No traffic announcements; no traffic visible on ground.  Directly over 33S heard; 'Look out; there is a small airplane in the area'. No other communication.  Although I knew it could have come from any number of airports in the area that use 122.8; I started craning my neck around and making turns.  About 2 miles east of 33S heard 'Jumpers away; 5;500 feet; 2 miles northeast Ritzville.  Landing south of the freeway.'  No warning call. I immediately turned northwest and crossed the highway to be on the north side.  A minute or two later I saw about 5 chutes off my right wing on the south side of the freeway. Maybe 2;500 feet horizontal; way too close.  I continued out of the area but continued to listen.  The next two jump calls were much more detailed with sufficient warning.My error was not carefully checking NOTAMs to see that there was jumping in the area. Also I should not have assumed as I did that a low ceiling would preclude jumping. The chart is not marked for jumping.  Jump operator should have provided more warning for the jump; especially if they knew 'a small airplane is in the area.'  It would have been much more helpful if the person that made the 'small airplane' call had identified themselves as being at 33S guarding a jump and at that time made a location for the jump announcement.  I would have been able to give it a much wider berth. Once they were out of the aircraft over my head it was too late to do anything but guess where they were coming from and try to get out of the way.  Better yet the jump operator should have waited 2 minutes for the known traffic to get out of the area before allowing the jumpers out. In too much of a hurry to pick up the next load I'm assuming.
A PA-18 pilot transiting near 33S heard a warning about an aircraft in the area and without knowing the warning's purpose; realized it was his aircraft. Then he heard 'jumpers away' and deviated but the jumpers were still within 2;500 feet.