It comes and goes in waves, Gagnon said. 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Theyve had their accidents, Blain said of Pepperell Skydive. Please make sure to bring your photo ID along with comfortable activewear clothing and laced sneakers. The pair spent a few hours together before the jump getting to know each other. "We all have a main parachute and we have a reserve parachute, and we're all trained how to deploy a reserve if something happens to the main," Goldstein said. 10/30/2022 Sometimes parachutists land badly or outside of the drop zone in the airport, he said. PEPPERELL (CBS) -- Rich Gately went skydiving for the first time this weekend. The jump began like any other from a Twin Otter plane at the Pepperell Airport, but then investigators believe something went wrong with the 60-year-old's parachute. This is an open and ongoing investigation conducted by the Middlesex's DA's office, PepperellPolice,State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration. The U.S. Parachute Association estimates 3.2 million people skydived nationally in 2016. "Everyone was quiet, the whole place was quiet, but you could tell that he was just such a nice guy, and I felt awful because he was videoing me," Gately told CBS Boston. "In my peripheral, I could see spinning, but I couldn't see anything else," Gately said. The skydiver hit the ground on airport property, which tells experts that something went wrong with the first parachute, he disconnected from it, and was trying to use the reserve. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBskydivefolo-cm-103017,ph1'); If a parachute does not fully function, a skydiver could hit the ground at up to 120 miles an hour. Out of those numbers, only 21 died as a result of the jump. When they were in the air, the photographer "was across from me, and he's like almost reaching out, doing hand gestures, telling me to wave, and I'm just like 'yeah!'" He was an experienced jumper, and the accident occurred upon landing.. Pepperell Skydiving Center 165 Nashua Road, Pepperell, MA 01463 Phone: (978) 433-9222 manifest@skyjump.com Mailing Address: P.O. Lead instructor David Goldstein told 7News the man killed was a veteran of thousands of jumps and worked for the facility as a videographer. Hes jumped out of a plane about 1,500 times and said that hes had to deploy his reserve parachute on two occasions. On Saturday, a 60-year-old experienced skydiver died at the Pepperell Skydiving Center after a parachute malfunction. Law enforcement officials are still investigating what happened to the jumper who died, but assume that the mans death was a result of a parachute malfunction. This is an open and ongoing investigation conducted by the Middlesex's DA's office, Pepperell Police, State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration. 60-year-old man killed in skydiving accident in Pepperell 60-year-old man killed in skydiving accident in Pepperell. Skydive Pepperell has the most comprehensive skydiving facilities in New England located on our private 60+ acre skydiving-only airport. Details still emerging. Pepperell skydiving accident: State Police And local authorities here investigating. The pair spent a few hours together before the jump getting to know each other. The incident. In a statement, the Middlesex County district attorney said preliminary investigations indicate the mans parachute malfunctioned. Review of Skydive Pepperell Reviewed November 20, 2020 Open 7 days/week May 1-Oct 30. On Saturday afternoon, at approximately 3:00 p.m., a skydiving incident in Pepperell left one person dead, according to police. In 2003, Chuck Parsons, 41, a nuclear physicist living in Groton, died after trying an advanced move with a new parachute, according to dropzone.com. A skydiver who works as an independent contractor filming jumps from airplanes was killed Saturday after what appeared to be a parachute malfunction, the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "It's important for us not to get complacent.". It is also a very personal sport in which participants tend to know each other, and mourn each other's passings. Alex Ray feeds lots of people, both in the Granite State and awar zone thousands of miles away.Hes the founder and owner of a restaurant Why do ants suddenly appear every time Spring is near? Goldstein and Gagnon were both at the dropzone when the accident occurred, and said it was very sudden. The jump began like any other from a Twin Otter plane at the Pepperell Airport, but then investigators believe something went wrong with the 60-year-old's parachute. At the time of the accident, the man was taking video as instructors and students jumped from about 10,000 feet. You should be in good physical condition and due to equipment specifications and limitations the maximum weight for tandem skydiving is 225 pounds. "Everyone was quiet, the whole place was quiet, but you could tell that he was just such a nice guy and I felt awful because he was videoing me," said Gately. / CBS Boston. Goldstein said he began his day Saturday in Franklin at a prescription drug take-back day, but left early to make one more jump in Pepperell before the skydiving facility closed for the season last weekend. Gately said. The fatal jump happened on the last weekend of Skydive Pepperell's operational season. The U.S. Parachute Association estimates 3.2 million skydived nationally in 2016. Two week notice is required for large groups. A 37-year-old man from Mattapan was killed while skydiving back in 2014. The finding means that the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has closed the case, said spokesman David Wallace on Sept. 9. Accept no immitations, Skydive Pepperell offers of full suite of services 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Goldstein, 65, has been skydiving for almost 20 years. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. "He was liked in this community," said Hoff, who knew the victim. We will match tandem offers from any skydiving company with a 15-plus seat turbine aircraft within 75 miles of Skydive Pepperell. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. var photocredit = photocredit.toUpperCase(); In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. An experienced skydiver fell to his death after a jump at the Skydive Pepperell Center, and investigators are working to figure out how the accident occurred, according to authorities. Licensed Skydivers enjoy our strong community of skydiving enthusiasts. PEPPERELL, Mass. He was filming beginner skydivers and then jumped from the plane himself. A skydiver was killed in an accident in Pepperell, Massachusetts around 3 p.m. on Saturday. In 2014, a Mattapan man's skydiving death was ruled as accidental. Equipment Sales Trump asks for mistrial in E. 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Gagnon said it was therapeutic for the Pepperell skydiving family to be able to talk about their lost team member and share experiences on Sunday. All About Us; Our Amazing Staff; Our Facilities; Special Events. The skydiver hit the ground on airport property, which made Goldstein believe that when something went wrong with the first parachute, the man disconnected from it, and was trying to use the reserve. Box 279, Pepperell, MA 01463 http://www.pepperellairport.com Airport Identifier: 26 MA Unicom Frequency: 123.05 Latitude: 42 41.771667 N Longitude: 71 33.003333 W Magnetic declination: 16 degrees W The man who officials have not yet identified was an independent videographer who was taking video as instructors and students jumped from the dropzones Twin Otter plane at about 10,000 feet. It is definitely a sport in which chaos and control are forced to co-exist, and having a healthy dose of fear, helps. Skydive Pepperell requires a $100Booking fee PER PERSON at the time of making the reservation, this is part of the cost of the jump. August 17, 2014 / 6:30 PM It is definitely a sport in which chaos and control are forced to co-exist, and having a healthy dose of fear, helps. The skydiver hit the ground on airport property, which tells experts that something went wrong with the first parachute, he disconnected from it, and was trying to use the reserve. 2023 Cox Media Group. October 29, 2017 / 10:05 PM There were a lot of tears, a lot of hugging, he said. -- A 60-year-old experienced skydiver who filmed jumps for a skydiving company died after a parachute malfunction. That's when I heard my instructor say 'oh no' and you know something was wrong, so I start to freak out.". Statistically, skydiving appears to be quite safe. "You're out having a good time with people and you forget that part that you're falling to the ground, towards the ground at 120 miles per hour," said Hoff. The Mattapan . PEPPERELL A 37-year-old Boston man was killed in a skydiving accident at Skydive Pepperell on Sunday morning, but published reports indicate the man's parachute had opened. "(He was a) very experienced jumper. Despite the tragic death of a photographer who jumped alongside him, he said he would go again. Its a high-risk sport, Goldman said. The photographer kept going, which Gately thought was routine at first. Our Tandem Skydiving option is ideal for the first time jumper. In 2014, a Mattapan man's skydiving death was ruled as accidental. Goldstein said the skydivers main parachute landed in a neighborhood nearby. PEPPERELL (CBS) -- Rich Gately went skydiving for the first time this weekend. PEPPERELL (CBS) -- A small skydiving plane crashed at Skydive Pepperell around 12:30 p.m. Friday. The ironworker was an upright, funloving guy, according to his obituary from DeVito Funeral Homes. Skydiving is a weather-dependent sport and certain conditions may prohibit jumping for safety reasons. for the beginner, student, and experienced skydiver. The photographer, who authorities haven't identified, filmed Rich Gately's tandem jump for the Skydive Pepperell company on Saturday. The finding means that the Middlesex County District Attorneys Office has closed the case, said spokesman David Wallace on Sept. 9. This impacts a lot of people, and its just very sad for all of us, she said. "He was so happy, and he just made us excited and comfortable," Gately said. -- A 60-year-old experienced skydiver who filmed jumps for a skydiving company died after a parachute malfunction, CBS Boston reports. Skydive Pepperell is the closest dropzone to Boston and is located on the border of Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire. He had 40 years of skydiving experience. Please plan on spending 4 to 6 hours here! Goldstein said skydivers typically jump with a main parachute and a reserve parachute. Two people were in the plane at the time but they were not injured, police said. "It's important for us not to get complacent.". A skydiver who was filming other people making their jumps was killed when his parachute apparently malfunctioned Saturday afternoon in Pepperell, the Middlesex district attorneys office said. The incident is under investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the Pepperell Police department, Massachusetts State Police, and the Federal Aviation Administration. The last time a fatal accident took place at Skydive Pepperell was in 2014. "In my peripheral, I could see spinning, but I couldn't see anything else," Gately said. Gift Certificates available online or just give us a call at 1-800-SKYJUMP! He was gearing up to take his jump when the accident happened at about 3 p.m. Gagnon had also traveled to the Massachusetts dropzone from Concord in an unexpected trip with the hope of getting one last fall jump in. "He was so happy, he made us excited and comfortable.". The photographer, who authorities haven't identified, filmed Rich Gately's tandem jump for the Skydive Pepperell company on Saturday. As you climb to your exit altitude of 10,500 feet, you will continue to receive instructions. "In my peripheral, I could see spinning but I couldn't see anything else. This is a sad thing for all of us. This is a close sport, and we have a tight community. The man worked as an independent contractor filming jumps with the skydiving company. In 1991 the current owners began run Ask the Community Ask a question Q: See question details This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. The plane. In 2001, Philip King, 40, from Lawrence, died in a fall about a half-mile from the airport, according to the Boston Globe. Now comes the thrill of your life. Skydive Pepperell's private, skydiving-only airport claims more than 60 acres for soaring steel birds at heights of 10,500 feet above ground. PEPPERELL, Mass. Gately's first jump would be the man's last assignment. The photographer, who authorities. October 28, 2017 / 8:48 PM / CBS Boston. It couldnt have been anything else, she said. He was working with the tandem students as a videographer," Goldstein said. "We have a main parachute and we have a reserve parachute," said David Goldstein, lead instructor at Skydive Pepperell. 60-year-old man killed in skydiving accident in Pepperell, Boston 25 News facebook feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News twitter feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News youtube feed(Opens a new window), School administrators: Create a closings account, Skydiver spends hours in tree after jump takes drastic turn, Boston man dies while skydiving in Pepperell, Its gunna spread: Encampment crackdown to resume in Boston Monday, Renovate or move? **Please remember that skydiving is a half-day event. Out of those numbers, only 21 died as a result of the jump. BEST VIEWING AREA IN NEW ENGLAND ! Neophyte fliers, harnessed to professionals for tandem jumps, leap from the belly of a Texas Turbine Caravan 900 HP and indulge in trendy cloud diets on their way down to the safe, grassy landing area . PEPPERELL, Mass. Investigators believe something went wrong with the man's parachute. Pelrine died from blunt force trauma with the ground,. When they were in the air, the photographer "was across from me, and he's like almost reaching out, doing hand gestures, telling me to wave, and I'm just like 'yeah!'" 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Over the years a number of other owners kept the skydiving business going. var sellablestring = "MONITOR STAFF"; The exact cause of the accident is unknown, however, preliminary investigation suggests he experienced a parachute malfunction. State police and the medical examiner are currently on the scene. "Everyone was quiet, the whole place was quiet, but you could tell that he was just such a nice guy, and I felt awful because he was videoing me," Gately told CBS Boston. Gately will do his best to remember the man's contagious passion. "He was taking video of the students.. At Skydive Pepperell, USPA licensed and certified instructors acquaint adventurers with the thrill of riding gravity back to the earth's crust. (WHDH) One person was killed while skydiving in Pepperell on Saturday afternoon. The pair spent a few hours together before the jump getting to know each other. I bent over to tie my shoe, and then I heard a scream, Goldstein said. Neophyte fliers, harnessed to professionals for tandem jumps, leap from the belly of a Texas Turbine Caravan 900 HP and indulge in trendy cloud diets on their way down to the safe, grassy landing area . **, Copyright 2023 by Pepperell Skydiving Center. PEPPERELL The medical examiner has ruled accidental the death of a skydiver of multiple, blunt trauma at the Pepperell Skydive Center on Aug. 17. So youve always dreamed of the freedom of human flight. They will work with you one on one to ensure you have the safest and most thrilling experience of your life. Gately will do his best to remember the man's contagious passion. - On Saturday afternoon, at approximately 3:00 p.m., a skydiving incident in Pepperell left one person dead, according to police. Please enter valid email address to continue. A 37-year-old Mattapan man died shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday in a skydiving accident in Pepperell, acording to John Guilfoil, a spokesman for the Pepperell Police Department. he was well-liked in this community," said Stephen Hoff, a fellow skydiver. A police spokesman said a Boston man died after an. Feel the full human emotional spectrum as you slow youre decent and witness breathtaking views of the New England landscape. He described the deceased skydiver as an incredibly friendly person, and an experienced skydiver., He was a give-you-the-shirt-off-his-back kind of guy, Goldstein said. You will also be shown the state of the art equipment being used to ensure you safety. Daniel Pelrine, 37, of Mattapan died in the accident at the Skydive Pepperell Center on Nashua Road, Pepperell police said. Its a great thing to have the skydive family all here, he said from the dropzone. We've got nowhere else to go Concord family homeless once again after temporary apartment stay, Concord Monitor Recent Obituaries: All of Concord Monitor's Recent Obituaries, Theres a new restaurant coming to Concord, with a familiar name and location, Avian flu is here and is a danger to cats and dogs as well as poultry. Saturday was the last day of the skydiving season at Pepperell Airport. In 2012, USPA members reported 915 skydiving injuries in more than 3.1 million jumps. Skydiver dies during Pepperell jump. The preliminary investigation indicates the man experienced a parachute malfunction, prosecutors said. -- A 60-year-old experienced skydiver who filmed jumps for a skydiving company died after a parachute malfunction, CBS Boston reports . Skydive Pepperell remains closed to skydiving. 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