FAA Investigation Launched as Third Death Reported in Two Months

Man in suit pointing at "Investigations" text.

A third fatal skydiving accident in two months has rocked Skydive Arizona, the world’s largest drop zone, as authorities investigate the death of a 47-year-old expert who had over 25,000 jumps under his belt.

Key Insights

Three skydivers have died at Skydive Arizona in less than two months, despite the facility’s reputation as the largest drop zone globally.
The most recent victim was an expert with 25,000+ jumps who died attempting an advanced landing maneuver at low altitude.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating but focuses on aircraft compliance rather than determining the cause of parachuting incidents.
Skydiving fatalities remain rare at less than one per 100,000 jumps according to the United States Parachute Association.
Many accidents involve experienced skydivers making judgment errors rather than equipment failures.

String of Tragedies at World’s Largest Drop Zone

The skydiving community is on edge following the third fatal accident in under two months at Skydive Arizona near Eloy. The facility, spanning 90 acres near Eloy Municipal Airport, has become the focus of multiple investigations after these tragic events. The most recent incident involved a 47-year-old veteran skydiver with more than 25,000 jumps, who died on February 16 while attempting an advanced landing maneuver at a dangerously low altitude.

Two weeks before this incident, Shawn Bowen, 46, died from a hard landing after his parachute reportedly failed to deploy properly. Bowen had completed over 200 jumps in his career. Just one week earlier, Ann Wick, 55, lost her life due to complications with her parachute during a jump. She had accumulated 267 career jumps. These three deaths in such a short timeframe have raised serious questions about safety protocols at the facility.

Equipment Functioning, Human Error Suspected

In the most recent incident, eyewitnesses indicated that the equipment was not to blame. According to reports from the scene, the skydiver had a normal free fall and successfully deployed his parachute. The investigation is focusing on decisions made during the final approach to landing, a critical phase of any jump where split-second judgments can have fatal consequences.

Josh Zerlan, a skydiving expert familiar with the incidents, highlighted the dangers of the landing phase: “The problems occurred towards the end of the canopy ride. When you’re starting to form up for landing, some of the most dangerous times during a skydive is during the landing.” The United States Parachute Association has noted that many accidents involve experienced jumpers making errors in judgment while landing functioning parachutes, rather than equipment malfunctions.

Investigations Underway as Community Mourns

Multiple agencies including the Eloy Police Department, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating these incidents. The FAA’s investigation focuses on specific aspects such as parachute packing, reserve parachute requirements, and flight rules compliance, rather than determining the cause of the accidents. This approach has been standard practice for the FAA, which investigates all reported skydiving mishaps.

Despite these tragic events, skydiving remains statistically safe compared to many other adventure sports. The United States Parachute Association reports that fatalities occur at a rate of less than one per 100,000 jumps. In 2023, only nine fatalities were reported nationwide out of approximately 3.88 million jumps. However, the clustering of three deaths in such a short period at one location has understandably raised concerns within the community and among safety regulators.

Experience No Guarantee of Safety

The recent tragedies highlight a sobering reality: experience alone does not guarantee safety in high-risk activities like skydiving. The United States Parachute Association points out that many accidents involve highly experienced skydivers pushing boundaries. As one expert from the association noted, accidents often involve “an experienced skydiver who is pushing the limits — makes an error in judgment while landing a perfectly functioning parachute.”

These incidents serve as stark reminders of the inherent risks in skydiving, regardless of skill level. The sport combines the technical aspects of parachute control with split-second decision-making under pressure. As investigations continue, the skydiving community must balance its passion for the sport with renewed attention to safety procedures and risk management, even among its most experienced members.