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. Skydive Pepperell says the skydiver killed Saturday, whose identity has not been released, was highly experienced and worked as an independent contractor filming jumps with the skydiving company. The incident. It wasn't made clear if the reserve parachute deployed or not. On Saturday, a. State police and the medical examiner are currently on the scene. "Just a fantastic person.". All while harnessed to an experienced tandem skydiving instructor. Statistically, skydiving appears to be quite safe. 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. PEPPERELL (CBS) - An experienced skydiver from Mattapan was killed in a skydiving accident in Pepperell Sunday morning. It is definitely a sport in which chaos and control are forced to co-exist, and having a healthy dose of fear, helps. ", First published on October 30, 2017 / 10:58 AM. 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 always here with a smile. The U.S. Parachute Association estimates 3.2 million people skydived nationally in 2016. Skydive Pepperell's private, skydiving-only airport claims more than 60 acres for soaring steel birds at heights of 10,500 feet above ground. Concord Monitor. Two week notice is required for large groups. Free load organizing every weekend. Gately's first jump would be the man's last assignment. At Skydive Pepperell we are dedicated to the advancement of skydiving as a sport, and our instructors can further guide you towards your goals. This policy does not apply to jumps that are cancelled or rescheduled due to inclement weather. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1) { "He was liked in this community," said Hoff, who knew the victim. The exact cause of the accident is unknown, however, preliminary investigation suggests he experienced a parachute malfunction. Before you board the aircraft, you will have an understanding of how to position your body during exit, freefall, and landing. As you climb to your exit altitude of 10,500 feet, you will continue to receive instructions. Gately will do his best to remember the man's contagious passion. "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. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. The incident is under investigation by the Middlesex District Attorneys office, the Pepperell Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration. PEPPERELL, Mass. They will work with you one on one to ensure you have the safest and most thrilling experience of your life. Pelrine died from blunt force trauma with the ground,. Skydive Pepperell has the most comprehensive skydiving facilities in New England located on our private 60+ acre skydiving-only airport. Theyve had their accidents, Blain said of Pepperell Skydive. The District Attorney's Office said no foul play was suspected. Gately's tandem jump was the man's last assignment. Goldstein and Gagnon were both at the dropzone when the accident occurred, and said it was very sudden. This week, Skydive Pepperell will close for the season. "In his honor, I would say that I would still go [skydiving], in his honor. We offer Tandem Skydivingand Accelerated Freefall Trainingfor students. The only word Concord native Chris Gagnon could think of to describe the death of his team member at Skydive Pepperell in Pepperall, Mass., on Saturday was shock. "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. The last time a fatal accident took place at Skydive Pepperell was in 2014. All About Us; Our Amazing Staff; Our Facilities; Special Events. The incident happened at the Skydive Pepperell facility on Nashua Road. This is a close sport, and we have a tight community. "That's when I heard my instructor say, 'Oh no,' and you know something was wrong, so I start to freak out.". October 29, 2017 / 10:05 PM "He was so happy, and he just made us excited and comfortable," Gately said. Please call us at least 1 week in advance should you need to cancel or change your reservation. Investigators believe something went wrong with the man's parachute. Sometimes younever know, but we will certainly take every opportunity to find out, he said. Skydive Pepperell is the closest dropzone to Boston and is located on the border of Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire. Despite the tragic death of a photographer who jumped alongside him, he said he would go again. LEAHWILLINGHAM/ Monitor staff "He was so happy, and he just made us excited and comfortable," Gately said. Plus, indoor skydiving at the exciting SkyVenture Wind Tunnel in Nashua, NH, just 15 minutes from us! Or maybe youre looking for that adrenaline rush you get jumping out into thin air, hitting speeds of 120 mph! Crossing it is the hardest part. //LBtag_id.innerHTML = ''; "Very nice, very gentle, very respectful, professional, family man, yes," said David Goldstein, who works at Skydive Pepperell. After about 60 seconds of free-falling, Gately remembers pulling his chute and feeling like he came to a halt. PEPPERELL, Mass. It comes and goes in waves, Gagnon said. Daniel Pelrine, 37, of Mattapan died in the accident at the Skydive. PEPPERELL, Mass. / CBS Boston. Jumpers descend from 10,000 to13,000feet. Skydive Pepperell 4.5 40 reviews #1 of 1 Tours & Activities in Pepperell Adrenaline & Extreme Tours Skydiving Closed now 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Write a review See all photos About Pepperell, Massachusetts Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show. The incident is under investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the Pepperell Police department, Massachusetts State Police, and the Federal Aviation Administration. PEPPERELL, Mass. Goldstein, 65, has been skydiving for almost 20 years. He was working as an independent contractor filming jumps with the skydiving company. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Pepperell Chief of Police David Scott have confirmed the death of a 60-year-old male who was an experienced skydiver. 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. Town officials agreed that skydiving carries a risk. He had 40 years of skydiving experience. Foul play is not suspected at this point, according to the Middlesex DA. PEPPERELL (CBS) -- Rich Gately went skydiving for the first time this weekend. Two week notice is required for large groups. He was an experienced jumper, and the accident occurred upon landing.. October 28, 2017 / 8:48 PM / CBS Boston. Gately's first jump would be the man's last assignment. Review of Skydive Pepperell Reviewed November 20, 2020 The photographer, who authorities. A spokesperson from Skydive Pepperell said the parachute was open during the landing. 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 . Most Facebook users can now claim settlement money. 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. PEPPERELL, Mass. Bad things happen and we do our best to prepare for emergency procedures and train often," said Stephen Hoff, an experienced skydiver who came to Pepperell to skydive Saturday only to be greeted by the tragic news. NH Boy Raises Money for Kids in War-Torn Ukraine, West Newbury School Evacuated, Several Taken to Hospital Amid Hazmat Situation, Aerosmith Announces Farewell Tour, Including New Year's Eve Show in Boston, New Video Shows Moment Floor Buckled on Green Line Train on Marathon Monday, Pupdate on the Adorable Dog That Fell Asleep on Our Broadcast, Tens of Thousands of New Englanders Wake Up Monday to No Power. Its a family there we are very tight. After about 45 seconds of pure freedom in freefall, your instructor will pull the parachute. Full-time Texas Turbine Supervan. 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. "Just a fantastic person.". 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Are you looking for the thrill of a lifetime? Hometown Hero: Charm Emiko and Project S.T.O.R.Y. Professional USPA Tandem and AFF instruction. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. When the facility re-opens in the spring, skydivers are hoping they can learn something from this tragedy to make the sport even safer. Licensed Skydivers enjoy our strong community of skydiving enthusiasts. In 2001, Philip King, 40, from Lawrence, died in a fall about a half-mile from the airport, according to the Boston Globe. I bent over to tie my shoe, and then I heard a scream, Goldstein said. Tandem Skydiving is the ideal way to make your first skydive. If you have any questions please call toll-free (800) SKY-JUMP or email manifest@skyjump.com. "In my peripheral, I could see spinning but I couldn't see anything else. Each of our instructors have thousands of jumps in experience, so you can rest assured you are jumping with the best. The man he jumped out with said he would go again. The U.S. Parachute Association estimates 3.2 million people skydived nationally in 2016. The photographer kept going, which Gately thought was routine at first. "That's when I heard my instructor say, 'Oh no,' and you know something was wrong, so I start to freak out.". The skydiving aircraft used by Skydive Pepperell is a Twin Otter which carries about two dozen skydivers. Pelrine's family said he was an iron worker in Boston and was engaged. The pair spent a few hours together before the jump getting to know each other. Air traffic into the airport is limited making the skies over our dropzone safer for your jump. "He was taking video of the students.. PEPPERELL The medical examiner has ruled accidental the death of a skydiver of multiple, blunt trauma at the Pepperell Skydive Center on Aug. 17. When they were in the air, the photographer "was across from me, almost reaching out, doing hand gestures, telling me to wave, and I'm just like 'yeah!'" Advertisement Police say Pelrine was. The skydiving aircraft used by Skydive Pepperell is a Twin Otter which carries about two dozen skydivers. Its a high-risk sport, Goldman said. -- A 60-year-old experienced skydiver who filmed jumps for a skydiving company died after a parachute malfunction.