U.S. Skydiving Fatalities by Year
2012 – 19
2011 – 25
2010 – 21
2009 – 16
2008 – 30
2007 – 18
2006 – 21
2005 – 27
2004 – 21
2003 – 25
2002 – 33
2001 – 35
2000 – 32
1999 – 27
1998 – 44
Source: United States Parachute Association
The victim of Sunday’s fatal skydiving accident in Warren County was an expert skydiver and long-time president of a national industry organization who sold high-tech parachute release systems.
The CYPRES system deployed Sunday after Clifford E. Schmucker, 58, collided aboout 7:30 p.m. Sunday with another parachutist in midair above the Red Stewart Airfield outside Waynesville, according to reports.
“In this case, even though it worked as expected, it wasn’t enough,” said Diane Graham, Schmucker’s assistant at SSK Inc., the Western Hemisphere’s distributor for the German-made cybernetic system.
Both divers were licensed and were making a recreational jump with Skydive Warren County. The other diver landed and didn’t seek treatment. Schmucker landed in a tree near the fifth hole at the Holly Hills Golf Course, across from the airfield outside Waynesville, and flown by helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital.
Schmucker died at 11:08 p.m. Sunday as the result of multiple trauma, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office. The death was ruled an accident by the coroner.
Schmucker lived in Union Twp., south of Lebanon. He was the veteran of more than 3,000 jumps and president of the Parachute Industry Association.
“Cliff served us as Parachute Industry Association president for almost 20 years, and under his leadership the sphere of influence of the PIA grew and prospered exponentially,” George Galloway, executive adviser to the organization, said in a statement on the group’s web site.
Fatality is relatively rare in skydiving accidents,with 19 deaths reported in almost 3 million skydives, according to the United States Parachute Association.
“It’s very sad. I’ve known Cliff for almost 20 years,” Jim Crouch, the group’s director of safety and training, said Tuesday. It’s unfortunate this happens from time to time.”
During the past five years, an annual average of 21 skydiving deaths have been reported nationally, according to industry data.
On Wednesday an Federal Aviation Administration investigator is expected to inspect Schmucker’s chute and conduct interviews, according to Sgt. Brandon Lacy of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
The FAA will investigate the safety of the flight, parachute harness and rigging, according to officials.
Otherwise skydiving accidents aren’t considered aviation accidents.
“FAA regulations are based on the assumption that any individual who chooses to skydive has assessed the dangers involved and assumes personal responsibility for his or her safety. The regulations are intended to assure the safety of those not involved in the sport, including persons and property on the surface and other users of the airspace. The skydiving community is always encouraged to adopt good operating practices and programs to ensure safety of all involved” according to the FAA.
“If the FAA does not find any evidence of violation involving these specific regulations, it will defer any further investigation of the accident to local law enforcement. The accident then becomes a law enforcement investigation, and the FAA has no further involvement,” according to the FAA.
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