Illinois man dies in first skydive

As a life member of the United States Parachute Association, it needs to be said that although skydiving is inherently dangerous by virtue of leaving an aircraft in flight, the sport has matured enough that such incidents are inexcusable. Negligence or suicide are the only reasons for such an ending to a jump. Properly equipped and trained, the experience will be enjoyable. Sadly there are inept people claiming to be instructors. Having instructed for years and never having lost a student, I question the standards in use at the DZ where this occurs.

I thought all first-timers were required to go tandem? Apparently not...

They did an autopsy on Saturday to investigate the possibility of a heart attack in mid-air. Please do not mention suicide again. That was NOT the case.

As a former member of the USPA it needs to be said that negligence and suicide are NOT the only reasons for someone dying while skydiving. Accidents happen, and not every accident is due to negligence.

Anon E Mouse: tandem is merely one option for first time jumpers. It is generally the most common because it is the quickest way to jump. Because you are jumping with an experienced instructor the first time jumper only needs about 20-30 minutes worth of instruction. But, you can still jump solo your first time. It involves a roughly 6-hour training class and either involves a static line jump (your rip cord is attached to the plane and is automatically pulled when you jump) or jumping with an instructor alongside of you. When you jump solo, though, the instructor isn't alongside you while you're chute is open.

William Bolton wrote:

As a life member of the United States Parachute Association, it needs to be said that although skydiving is inherently dangerous by virtue of leaving an aircraft in flight, the sport has matured enough that such incidents are inexcusable. Negligence or suicide are the only reasons for such an ending to a jump. Properly equipped and trained, the experience will be enjoyable. Sadly there are inept people claiming to be instructors. Having instructed for years and never having lost a student, I question the standards in use at the DZ where this occurs.

You should be ashamed of yourself for even saying such a thing!!!

I know nothing about skydiving and have no intentions of finding out. However, I wish people weren't so quick to judge and spout off about so many things.

Wow M. Bolton, they should hire you as an investigator for such skydiving accidents, it would be way less expensive to your skydiving association and government, and way more relevant !! APPLY!!!!!!!!!!and i'll keep jumpin in CANADA)

William Bolton wrote:

As a life member of the United States Parachute Association, it needs to be said that although skydiving is inherently dangerous by virtue of leaving an aircraft in flight, the sport has matured enough that such incidents are inexcusable. Negligence or suicide are the only reasons for such an ending to a jump. Properly equipped and trained, the experience will be enjoyable. Sadly there are inept people claiming to be instructors. Having instructed for years and never having lost a student, I question the standards in use at the DZ where this occurs.

Wow. Must be nice being perfect.

It is easy to get angry when you see some neglect out there. But after 15 years in the sport and seeing many changes and jumping at every type of dropzone, the "sport" of skydiving is over whelmingly safe. Uspa is to be commended on the attention given to safty and students.
Most of our sport is volunteer and done out of a love for life.
As with anything in life accidents do happen we as skydivers in general are responsible as awhole to look out for each other and our sport.
Throwing blame lands on all of us.

William Bolton wrote:

As a life member of the United States Parachute Association, it needs to be said that although skydiving is inherently dangerous by virtue of leaving an aircraft in flight, the sport has matured enough that such incidents are inexcusable. Negligence or suicide are the only reasons for such an ending to a jump. Properly equipped and trained, the experience will be enjoyable. Sadly there are inept people claiming to be instructors. Having instructed for years and never having lost a student, I question the standards in use at the DZ where this occurs.

No one body has the answer to this so why go there. A life has been lost. There is non what if or why? Thats how it is leave it in peace.

William Bolton wrote:

As a life member of the United States Parachute Association, it needs to be said that although skydiving is inherently dangerous by virtue of leaving an aircraft in flight, the sport has matured enough that such incidents are inexcusable. Negligence or suicide are the only reasons for such an ending to a jump. Properly equipped and trained, the experience will be enjoyable. Sadly there are inept people claiming to be instructors. Having instructed for years and never having lost a student, I question the standards in use at the DZ where this occurs.

My father is an experienced diver....and was tragically shocked by this...but dont judge the instructors...nor the affiliation... I have skydived... and i loved it...and i knew the risks. I have more of a risk dying on the highway everyday than i do in the air. so please.... dont judge.