By Kelly Jackson
Published: Updated:
MONROE COUNTY, Ill. (KSDK/CNN) — A pilot working for a skydiving company made his first parachute jump, but not for fun.
Shawn Kinmartin is a pilot for Fly Free Skydiving in Festus, Missouri.
He was on his fourth skydiving run of the day at 11,500 feet when the trouble began.
“The two skydivers jumped out they were the last two I had in my airplane,” Kinmartin said. “The last skydiver on his way out struck the elevator of the aircraft.”
That’s the part of the tail that controls the aircraft’s climb and descent.
For the next 10 minutes, Kinmartin fought to control the Cessna 182 as he headed back to the Festus airport.