King Air C90 E90
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 65; Flight Crew Total 2300; Flight Crew Type 305
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Weather; Procedure
While climbing to altitude over jump zone; I observed a large cloud moving over the airport. The cloud was at approximately 6;000 feet; and estimated 1 mile by 1/2 mile in diameter. Approximately 500 to 700 feet in depth. As we approached our exit point for the skydivers; I noticed part of the cloud was still over the airport. I advised the jumpers in the aircraft that there was a cloud in the vicinity of the airport and to let me know which way to adjust my flight path in order to ensure cloud clearance. When I was on jump run and turned the exit light on; 5 experienced jumpers exited the aircraft. As the tandem instructors approached the door; they advised me to go around and offset jump run slightly to the west to avoid the cloud. The remaining jumpers exited the airplane.When I landed; I was advised by an Observer on the ground that the first 5 jumpers had penetrated the cloud. An announcement was made to the entire drop zone that disregard for cloud clearance requirements would not be tolerated and everyone was warned.
A C90 skydiving jump pilot at 14;500 feet attempted to avoid dropping his jumpers on a cloud at about 6;000 feet but was told after landing the divers had penetrated the cloud.