ELOY, Ariz. (KFGO/CBS) – Authorities in Arizona are working with the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate deadly skydiving incidents after three people, including a Minnesota woman, had problems while descending.
The three deaths happened within the last two months. The most recent occurred on Feb. 16 when a 47-year-old man died near Skydive Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. Witnesses said he was a “very experienced skydiver.”. No foul play is suspected.
A similar death happened earlier this month after a 46-year-old man died at the same facility when his parachute did not deploy during a free fall, the Eloy Police Department said.
In January, a 55-year-old Ann Wick who grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota died after complications with her parachute at Skydive Arizona. A GoFundMe set up by Wick’s brother has raised over $12,000 to support her children.
A spokesperson for the FAA said the agency’s investigations of skydiving accidents focus on inspecting the packing of the parachute and reserve parachute, and flight rules for the pilot and aircraft. The FAA does not investigate to determine the cause of the event.
The FAA looks into every skydiving mishap that’s reported to the agency.
Many skydiving accidents occur because of the jumper, according to the United States Parachute Association. The group says that “oftentimes an experienced skydiver who is pushing the limits — makes an error in judgment while landing a perfectly functioning parachute.”
In 2024, nine people died from a skydiving-related incident across the country, the United States Parachute Association reported.
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