LONGMONT, Colo. — A tragic incident at Mile-Hi Skydiving claimed the life of a 60-year-old skydiver on Sunday, raising concerns about safety at one of the nation’s busiest skydiving facilities. The man’s parachute reportedly failed to open fully during his descent, marking the seventh fatality linked to the company since 2018.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene in a field near Vance Brand Airport around 3 p.m. after receiving a report that a parachutist was unresponsive. Upon arrival, officials pronounced the individual dead, though his identity has not yet been released. Witnesses described seeing the skydiver spinning and descending rapidly just above the ground.
In the days following the incident, emergency audio recordings revealed dispatchers inquiring about missing skydivers, reflecting the urgency of the situation. The frequent nature of such accidents at Mile-Hi has raised alarms among skydiving advocates and safety regulators alike.
The facility conducts approximately 35,000 jumps each year, yet it has been associated with almost 7% of the skydiving fatalities recorded in the U.S. from 2018 to 2024. Data from the U.S. Parachute Association highlights that there were 88 skydiving deaths nationwide during this timeframe, raising questions about the company’s safety practices.
Skydiving fatalities in the U.S. remain relatively rare. Since 2018, annual death tolls have fluctuated, with no more than 20 recorded in any single year. Despite this, the fatalities connected to Mile-Hi are alarming, especially considering the high rate at which they are occurring.
The ongoing investigation into Sunday’s incident is reminiscent of previous tragic events that have marred the company’s history. Among them is the case of Patrick Gire, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a 2018 accident, ultimately leading to his death months later. Other fatalities include experienced jumpers like Logan Polfuss and Gregory Coates, whose incidents involved complex maneuvers.
Mile-Hi Skydiving’s management has previously expressed a commitment to safety following past fatalities, noting that many accidents involved seasoned skydivers testing new skills. The company emphasized the unpredictable nature of the sport despite its rigorous safety measures.
After the death of Brock Barto in 2019, the facility acknowledged a difficult year marked by incidents, highlighting that many of those lost were highly qualified jumpers caught in unfortunate circumstances.
Attempts to gain comment from Mile-Hi regarding the recent fatality have gone unanswered, leaving the community in shock and mourning for yet another life lost in this high-adrenaline sport. As investigations continue, questions linger about the adequacy of safety protocols and the overall management of one of the premier skydiving locations in the country.