2 Calif. Skydivers Collide, Die After Free-Falling 300 ft.
- Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:32am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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PERRIS, Calif. (AP) — Two skydivers fell hundreds of feet to their deaths Thursday after colliding over Perris Valley Airport in Riverside County, authorities said.
The men’s parachutes collided and deflated some 300 to 400 feet in the air, sending the men plummeting to the ground, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.
Emergency workers tried to resuscitate the men but they were pronounced dead on the scene at 4 p.m.
The sheriff-coroner’s office identified the men as Patrick James McGowan of Menifee and Christopher David Stasky of San Diego, both 42.
Chris Stasky (L) and Patrick McGowan (R).
Scott Smith, western regional director of the U.S. Parachute Association, told the Riverside Press-Enterprise that McGowan had worked with Skydive Perris as an instructor for almost two decades and oversaw parachuting activities at the airport.
“He had over 17,000 jumps,” Smith told the newspaper.
Smith said Stasky was helping McGowan train parachute instructors for the Canadian military.
Skydive Perris didn’t return phone messages.
Federal and local officials are investigating the deaths.
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Information from: The Press-Enterprise, http://www.pe.com
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Comments (41)
Buck.Ofama
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:01pm60,000 people die every year in cars. More than 10 years of the Viet Nam war. Should we never drive cars if you have kids…? Stop being so hateful and go out and live life.
Report Post »skydiver_99654
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:49pmJLP188 is correct… I’d hate to hide in my bedroom all day for those of you knocking skydiving… ahhhh… the uneducated are amongst us.
BSBD D-26464
Report Post »beckbotsrlame
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 3:04pmThe moderator here is a wimp.
scr_north
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 2:19pmFor those of you who speak unkindly about these two men or their sport I do feel sorry for you. like some other posters here I gave up the sport 25 years ago because of the cost. There will be accidents in any human endeavour and it’s the price of life. Whether you’re skydiving, hunting, Sunday driving or eating that fatty steak that you know, deep in side is very bad for you we all choose to enhance our life experience in some way. The people that speak out against both the sport and the men must lead very grey lives. What happened here seems to have been a terrible, grim accident of the type that can happen anywhere, anytime to anyone. Have some respect.
Report Post »Longbow
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 3:06pmSorry, I can’t respect stupid.
Skydiving is a HIGH risk activity, the consequence of a single mistake is death. Nobody outside the military has to take that risk. These guys engaged in the airborne equivalent of Russian roulette repeatedly just for fun! Nobody made them jump, they did it just for their own entertainment. Now they are dead. Are they having fun now? Was it worth it? Bet the families have a different opinion than you!
And please don’t compare driving and eating as risks comparable to skydiving. We must eat to live and cars, though risky, serve a real purpose. Jumping out of airplanes for sport accomplishes nothing, unless it’s some sort of Darwinian exercise in survival of the fittest. These guys flunked that test bigtime.
Report Post »JLP188
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 3:38pmLongbow – do you watch football? hockey? NFL? MLB? do you mow your grass? do you climb a ladder? do you use electricity? all activities which are RISKIER than a trained skydiver jumping out of a plane with a certified parachute rig on his back. You take more risks just living your day-to-day life than these guys took in their sport. You only really HAVE to drive to your job and the store. The rest of your driving is just a needless risk. You do not need to shave, you can eat raw food, you can walk everywhere you need to go if you plan ahead, except even walking can be a risk if you walk along side the roads. You apparently think parents are crazy to let their kids play sports or ride a bike or learn to work by mowing their grass, climbing a ladder, etc. If we took your approach to life then we WOULD BE socialists. Keep your narrow minded thoughts to yourself if you can only use them to insult others who are doing the things that, although risky, end up improving the life you enjoy at their expense. You are speaking out of ignorance.
Report Post »Longbow
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:56pmJLP188 – you’re really stretching your argument here, nothing you said in any way changes the reality of what happened. It‘s also pretty obvious that there’s no length you won’t go to to defend this stupidity.
How about this, I have a .357 revolver with six chambers, only one chamber has a bullet in it. Would you put that .357 to your head and pull the trigger? Probably not. Now imagine that .357 has 17001 chambers and just one bullet. How about now? Feeling lucky?
That may be a crude analogy, but it’s pretty-much the scenario with sky divers.
And this bit:
“all activities which are RISKIER than a trained skydiver jumping out of a plane with a certified parachute rig on his back.”
Utter BS, please see ‘consequence of a single mistake’ in my original post for clarification.
and this …
“You take more risks just living your day-to-day life than these guys took in their sport. ”
MORE complete BS. I and the vast majority of people DO NOT casually take a life-threatening risk, just for the fun of it.
And we would be socialists? Really? Please explain how that doofus comment IN ANY WAY relates to death by skydiving.
Report Post »JLP188
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:29pmWell, Longbow, let’s take your .357 analogy — when you get in your car and drive to McDonalds to get a Big Mac simply because you had a craving for one, you are loading the chamber with all the other drivers, some not so safe, some possibly too incompetent or too old to drive, some possibly drunk, some might be texting while driving, but you decide to get that Big Mac anyway because it is worth the risk to you to go there and get back home to Longbow Jr. and his mom without getting killed by what is loaded in the chamber. And when you let Longbow Jr. play high school football or hockey you are deciding that the risk of his becoming a paraplegic (or worse) is worth his overall enrichment of life by participating in the sport, etc, etc, because maybe he will be the next Peyton Manning and pay for your retirement. I could go on, obviously. All of those could turn out bad based on a single mistake, and not even your own mistake but very likely the mistake of someone else. Yet you still do it because you sit in your car and think it through every single time you start the engine that maybe this will be my last drive. I may not make it out of this one alive. But, by golly, I HAVE got to HAVE that Big Mac!!! So you take the chance and you go for it. The rush of excitement is so intense and so exciting that you find yourself going for that Big Mac again and again! And you decide one day, what the heck, I‘m goin’ to Vegas!!! If I go down at least I go down in a blaze of glory!!! Just me, my wife and Longbow Jr. in our Ford Focus on the side of the road outside of Vegas! But at least you went for it, right?
I like to think, be it kinda of overly romantic, that someday there will be a Starship Enterprise that can go Warp 2 speed and beam people to the surface of another planet where we might find a cure for our worst diseases simply because someone like Chuck Yeager was willing to break the sound barrier just for the fun of it. If it were not for people taking risks for the sheer joy of it then we would probably still be cooking our food outside the cave.
Report Post »mitcha_ca_sux
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 2:14pmHas the Blaze turnind into the Daily KOS? The people that feel a need to attack the dead are nothing more than purile children looking for attention.
If you dont Skydive fine, dont. But putting down others that do shows youre nothing but a Lib in disguise. What part of Freedom do you turds not understand?
Report Post »Longbow
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 2:03pmThe fools deserved it, skydiving IMHO is is an incredibly stupid ‘sport’ where participants want to feel the thrill of a ‘near death’ experience. The law of averages doesn’t play nice, 17,000 jumps and it only takes one mistake to kill you.
Skydiving vs. russian roulette, what’s the difference? The odds are better in skydiving but that’s about it.
Maybe they got what they wanted, I bet those last few moments were amazing.
Report Post »demsaredumb
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 7:33pmAnd you Longbow are a moron and have not a clue about what you speak. Some people should not be allowed to touch a computer
Report Post »Gypsy123
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 1:40pmWow Tragic! At least they were doing what they loved!
Report Post »gili
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 1:29pmThere have been a lot of strange accidents out at the Perris airport during skydiving, but its a risk you take. A few months ago a Russian tourist with extensive jump history disappeared. The people in charge of the divers dont check to see if they land and get accounted for if you can believe it, so this guy’s rental car with his passport and wallet sat for several days before someone who knew him started asking questions.
Report Post »After a lot of publicity and several searches, the guys decomposing body was found in a farmer’s field by the farmer a few months later.
What a way to go but it isnt for me!
mrtinbender
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 1:15pmall you padded room people can stay in your room because that is your choice it is also the choice that people make to go skydiving,, i am not calling you a selfish sob therfore you sshould do what you want to do and let peolpe skydive if they want even if they have children a mother or father uncle aunts please do what you want and let me do what i want
Report Post »Johnnyp1958
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 12:21pmNow if we can just get everyone in California to go skydiving
Report Post »Wings2fly1968
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 12:05pmChris Stasky was a Personal friend of mine. Your negative comments are VERY ignorant, cold and abusive. Chris LIVED his life and people who judge have nothing better to do but bitch and complain about others. I will celebrate your life Chris !!! Blue skies my friend. Frank Kenyon
Report Post »iamthelucid1
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:56amLife begins at 5000 feet!
Report Post »Its a hell of a rush and not too different from driving in the “inner city”!
Rob, going to war is dangerous, do you suggest that all of our fighting forces who have kids quit and go home? Being in law enforcement is dangerous, should all police quit and go work at the local big box store? Whada dud!
JLP188
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:47amOk, I guess i will be the one to speak out in defense of skydiving.
I have not jumped in about 20 years but it is not because of any danger involved but instead because I could not afford the hobby with all the other things going on in my life (it is not any more expensive a sport than water skiing or snow skiing, BTW). There is no other feeling like falling through the sky face to earth from 10,000 feet untethered to anything or flying under canopy with the ability to see God’s creation laid out in full splendor in every direction. My DZ was in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains and the view was always incredible.
Skydiving is an EXTREMELY safe sport. It is one of the most highly regulated sports in the world and in this country it falls under the direct oversight of the FAA. There have been so many advancements in the technologies used in the sport which have made it safer, and the community of skydivers throughout the world are extremely proactive in making sure the sport is conducted with extreme care and safety. It is also a self-policing community as well. Irresponsible behavior on just about any drop-zone (DZ) will not only get you thrown off the DZ but very likely blacklisted from any DZ within a 500 mile radius. The use of drugs is explicitly prohibited and the use of alcohol is prohibited anywhere near the DZs while jumping is going on. The training is thorough and time tested. Most instructors have in excess of a thousand jumps, some with 15,000 or more. The equipment is only manufactured and serviced by certified rigmasters who have to re-certify on a frequent basis. AND, as most of you have probably heard in the past, skydiving is statistically safer than almost any other high school or college sport. It is also overwhelmingly statistically safer than riding in an automobile anywhere in the country. If you let your child ride his bike down the street you are putting him in more danger than these skydivers place themselves in when they leave the plane for the sky. Many years the percentage of skydiving fatalities is less than a fraction of a percent of the number of jumps made in that year, and the statistics are similar for incidents in general. When I was jumping, one of the airplane mechanics that traded his skills for free jumps told me that he was one of the many mechanics for Air Force One while he was in the service. He told us straight faced that there was no plane, including Air Force One, that he would choose to land in if he had the choice to land under a parachute instead. I do not say that to infer that the planes are not safe, but most skydivers feel so comfortable in the sky that they have more anxiety on the flight to jump altitude. It is when the door to the plane opens that their anxiety starts to go away.
I am not saying there are not risks involved in the sport; there are and that is part of the attraction and addiction to the sport. But this community balances the risks back in their favor more than any other sport I have ever known. My sympathies go out to the family and friends of these two gentlemen, but I also am sure that if you ask any skydiver how he would want to go out, it would be doing the thing he loves the most and living his life to the absolute maximum. I am sure these guys were living their lives to that measure and their families can take some solace in knowing these men loved their sport and were constantly working to make the sport safer for everyone.
Report Post »mrtinbender
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 1:04pmcould not have said it any better D-4598
Report Post »Tex Expatriate
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:52pmIt’s not an extremely safe sport. It’s a relatively safe sport—relative to lots of more dangerous sports. Like driving an IRL or Formula race car at 200 mph, if you are qualified, if the car is perfect, and if some other person does not run into you, it is relatively safe. But a half-shaft can let go or a cut tire can throw you into the wall or a post, and even if everything else works perfectly, you may still main yourself or die.
In the case of the story above, these two guys did the improbable and paid for it when they hit one another. I knew a guy years ago who somehow “accidentally” released himself from his chute at 100 feet and died. A lot us thought it was a suicide, but others argued it was an accident. I’ve known two other skydivers who, it was later argued when they plunged into the ground, were so entranced with the experience they lost consciousness or altitude judgment.
Anyway you cut it, jumping out of an airplane with the best most modern chutes is still more dangerous than a whole lot of other things, and is relatively safe rather than extremely safe. Extrememly safe activities only very rarely result in injury or death.
Report Post »Metalplate6538
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:18amFalling doesn’t kill… it’s the sudden stop where the problems arise.
Report Post »Wings2fly1968
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 12:01pmChris Stasky was a PERSONAL friend of mine. All of your comments are ignorant, cold and show how people can be so judemental. I will CELEBRATE Chris’s life because he lived his life to the fullest ! I pity all of you for not living life and living in such a negative judgemental world !!! RIP Chris… You will be missed ! Prayers to your family and our skydiving friends. Blue Skies. Frank Kenyon
Report Post »zorro
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 3:02pmSorry for your loss, Wings2fly1968.
Report Post »takemout
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:40amTwo less adrenalin junkies …
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:59amThats really sad. I’ve dealt with this organization several times related to my own work.
Report Post »Billsocal
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:50amWhy jump out of a perfectly good plane. The reminds me of when I was stationed in Bad Tolez, Germany. The Special Forces demo team was making a practice jump and one the jumpers fail to open his chute. What made it interesting is that this happened in front of the graduation of a class at the 7th Army NCO Academy. These two guys either knew to risk or were just stupid.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:18amWhat, no comments by two dozen sky divers in here telling us again just how safe and wonderful a feeling of freedom it is for family men with young kids.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:39amI wouldn‘t quite agree that it’s criminal,more an irresponsibility and /or selfish pursuit.Gave up motorcycles and the craziness involved in younher years cause I wanyed to be around to see my child grow up.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:46amSorry that was meant @ ROB
Report Post »Rob
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:18amIf they have children then their behavior was criminial… act stupid and take risks when young and single and no one will miss you. Once you have kids, you MUST stay away from danger.
Report Post »jeff.cooper
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 7:58amToo sad. Accidents can happen to even the most experienced.
Report Post »OUTRIDER WRITER
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 7:46amThey knew the risks. Sad for their families and friends.
Report Post »On The Bayou
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 7:13amSky diving is never a good idea, you`d be better off peeing on an electric fence!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »brntout
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:50amNo, no your’e not.Even at a quarter amp @ 115 volts it can stop your heart.It’s funny though it happened to me one dark night on the farm.Didnt didn’t see it.
Report Post »mrtinbender
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 12:59pmskydiving is much safer than you would think,, dont spend your whole life in a padded room
Report Post »martinrnelson
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:50amThis activity always puzzled me…I feel very sorry for their families.
Report Post »flyoverbob
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:55amI wonder if Biden and Hussien would be interested.It would be a big fn deal.
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:36amI am very sorry for their families, this is terrible
Report Post »however, if only they had both been in one of those giant water walking bubbles, they most likely would have just bounced, perhaps our nanny state should reconsider their ban, just make sure the bubble are used for skydiving instead. Funny, someone on the bubble thread used skydiving as an example and here it is.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:53amMay the Lord sustain and comfort their families and friends after this great loss, let His spirit guide them in the time ahead with loving memories and inspiration of all the good works they did and the help in changing lives they have done. Let the love they shared with family continue to flow onward in the days and years ahead.
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