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. "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. PEPPERELL (CBS) An experienced skydiver from Mattapan was killed in a skydiving accident in Pepperell Sunday morning. Learn More About Tandem Jumping - Skydive Pepperell PEPPERELL (CBS) -- A small skydiving plane crashed at Skydive Pepperell around 12:30 p.m. Friday. "And we all train in how to deploy a reserve if something happens to the main.. The aircraft that sometimes did up to twenty-five skydiving runs a day will head to Florida. Annual Pepperell Boogie; Contact Information. The man worked as an independent contractor filming jumps with the skydiving company. 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. That's when I heard my instructor say 'oh no' and you know something was wrong, so I start to freak out.". At the time of the accident, the man was taking video as instructors and students jumped from about 10,000 feet. Despite the tragic death of a photographer who jumped alongside him, he said he would go again. Gift Certificates available online or just give us a call at 1-800-SKYJUMP! The plane. The 60+ acre airport has been attentively groomed to provide a lush grassy landing area that is flat and free of obstacles. -- A 60-year-old experienced skydiver who filmed jumps for a skydiving company died after a parachute malfunction, CBS Boston reports . He was working as an independent contractor filming jumps with the skydiving company. The Twin Otter airplane used for jumps at Skydive Pepperell in Pepperell, Mass. Jumpers descend from 10,000 to 13,000 feet. Two week notice is required for large groups. var photocredit = photocredit.toUpperCase(); "That's when I heard my instructor say, 'Oh no,' and you know something was wrong, so I start to freak out.". Skydiving Price Information - Skydive Pepperell The U.S. Parachute Association estimates 3.2 million skydived nationally in 2016. Rich Gatelys girlfriend catches a picture of him jumping out of the plane to skydive with his instructor. All of our skydives are from 10,500 to 13,500 feet AGL (above ground level). Town officials agreed that skydiving carries a risk. **, Copyright 2023 by Pepperell Skydiving Center. We are located on a private skydiving-only airport for your safety. "He was so happy, and he just made us excited and comfortable," Gately said. View Your Skydive Video! Over the years a number of other owners kept the skydiving business going. Skydive Pepperell only contracts the most qualified and experienced tandem instructors in the industry. 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. August 17, 2014 / 6:30 PM "He was so happy, and he just made us excited and comfortable," Gately said. . The incident is under investigation by the Middlesex District Attorneys office, the Pepperell Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration. That morning, he was skydiving at Skydive Pepperell, about an hour away, when he crashed on landing. All rights reserved, After Flooding for Some, Raindrops Set to Return This Week, Why Not Help?' 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. 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!'" Now comes the thrill of your life. Its a family there we are very tight. The U.S. Parachute Association estimates 3.2 million skydived nationally in 2016. BEST VIEWING AREA IN NEW ENGLAND ! Contact Us For More Information - Skydive Pepperell The Parachute Shop, which is located on-site, provides a climate . 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "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. Skydiver plummets to death in Pepperell - Boston Herald We will match tandem offers from any skydiving company with a 15-plus seat turbine aircraft within 75 miles of Skydive Pepperell. Pepperell is a drug free workplace. PEPPERELL The medical examiner has ruled accidental the death of a skydiver of multiple, blunt trauma at the Pepperell Skydive Center on Aug. 17. This is the second time in the last three years a skydiver was killed in Pepperell. Gately's tandem jump was the man's last assignment. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. That goes with it.. Equipment Sales 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? Gately said. There were a lot of tears, a lot of hugging, he said. You should be in good physical condition and due to equipment specifications and limitations the maximum weight for tandem skydiving is 225 pounds. Hes a friend, a colleague. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. I didnt see a lot, I was really reacting more to people around me.. Pelrine died from blunt force trauma with the ground, Guilfoil said. The U.S. Parachute Association estimates 3.2 million people skydived nationally in 2016. PEPPERELL, Mass. Pepperell skydiving death: Man describes interactions with photographer It couldnt have been anything else, she said. "It's important for us not to get complacent.". 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!'" The skydiving aircraft used by Skydive Pepperell is a Twin Otter which carries about two dozen skydivers. / CBS News. "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. 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. October 30, 2017 / 10:58 AM If you have any questions please call toll-free (800) SKY-JUMP or email [email protected]. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/nVl0q9rMtR. The exact cause of the accident is unknown, however, preliminary investigation suggests he experienced a parachute malfunction. Theyve had their accidents, Blain said of Pepperell Skydive. October 29, 2017 / 10:05 PM All About Us; Our Amazing Staff; Our Facilities; Special Events. The last time a fatal accident took place at Skydive Pepperell was in 2014. He was always here with a smile. The last time a fatal accident took place at Skydive Pepperell was in 2014. Full Contact Information; Map and Directions; Contact Quicklinks. Here's how. PEPPERELL (CBS) -- Officials have confirmed a man died from a skydiving incident in Pepperell. var currentLocation = window.location; 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!'" Rich Gately's girlfriend catches a picture of him jumping out of the plane to skydive with his instructor (Photo Courtesy: Rich Gately), skydiver died at the Pepperell Skydiving Center. var tag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkskydivefolo-cm-103017,ph1'); "We have a main parachute and we have a reserve parachute,"said David Goldstein, lead instructor at Skydive Pepperell. Daniel Pelrine, 38, of Mattapan, was pronounced dead at the scene by medics shortly after 11 am, according to police spokesman John Guilfoil. The incident happened at the Skydive Pepperell facility on Nashua Road. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices.