A 70-year-old skydiver has tragically lost his life following a mid-air collision with another jumper during a group skydive in Washington state. The incident occurred on Sunday evening, prompting an investigation by local authorities and the United States Parachute Association.
Details of the Incident
Randy Hubbs, a resident of Kennewick, Washington, was participating in an 11-person group jump organized by Skydive West Plains when the collision took place. According to press releases from the Adams County Sheriff's Office and the skydiving company, Hubbs collided with 52-year-old Nicole Klein of Colville at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet above ground. Both individuals were licensed skydivers using their own equipment and had experienced a normal free fall before the collision. Eyewitness reports indicate that both successfully deployed their parachutes before the fatal crash, which occurred around 6 p.m. local time.
Following the collision, Hubbs reportedly became incapacitated and lost control of his parachute canopy, as detailed by the Adams County Sheriff's Office in a Facebook post on Monday. Witnesses observed Hubbs drifting north, away from the designated drop zone, at around 500 feet above the ground. Staff members who witnessed the incident stated that Hubbs appeared unresponsive, with his head and arms down, before disappearing beyond a hill northeast of the drop zone.
Authorities have stated that weather conditions are not believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash. Klein sustained a hip injury, which was described as not life-threatening by Skydive West Plains. She was transported to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Rarity of Skydiving Fatalities
Skydiving deaths remain relatively rare. According to the United States Parachute Association, there were 3.47 million jumps in the United States last year, with only 16 civilian fatalities reported. Hubbs was an experienced skydiver with approximately 800 jumps to his name, while Klein had around 900 jumps, underscoring the unpredictability of such accidents even among seasoned professionals.
Community Mourning
Skydive West Plains expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating, "The Skydive West Plains community is mourning the loss of a friend who has been part of the dropzone family for nearly a decade. The team's thoughts are also with the second jumper and her family as she recovers." The company is cooperating fully with local authorities and the United States Parachute Association in the ongoing investigation.
Beyond his skydiving pursuits, Hubbs was a respected figure in his community. He worked as a broker at Equity 1st Home Group since 2017, according to his Facebook profile. The Benton-Franklin Rental Owners Association paid tribute to him, writing, "With great sadness we would like to share the passing of our friend and great mentor and previous board member Randy Hubbs. He has been an active part of our community in many ways and has been a mentor to many of our members. He will be missed by his community."
Hubbs also had a distinguished career in education, serving as a music professor at Columbia Basin College from the late 1980s until 2015. His former colleague and former student, David Cazier, shared heartfelt words on Facebook: "I was very fortunate to know Randy Hubbs for MANY years. He was my HS jazz band teacher and later was my colleague for 20 years or so in the music dept at CBC. His influence was so great. Still processing, but I will definitely miss him."
The Adams County Sheriff's Office offered condolences, stating, "We offer our deepest condolences to those impacted by this incident."
