A midair collision during a scheduled group jump at West Plains Skydiving in Washington state left one skydiver dead and another injured on Sunday evening, according to local authorities.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident involving 11 participants after receiving reports that two individuals required immediate medical attention at the scene.
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Investigators identified the deceased individual as Randy Hubbs of the Kennewick area, while Nicole Klein of the Colville area survived the crash with injuries that required additional treatment at a medical facility.
"Two skydivers were needing medical attention," stated the Adams County Sheriff's Office in an initial report released on Monday.
Deputies arriving at the location quickly confirmed that the midair impact had immediately incapacitated one of the jumpers.
"On scene, deputies learned of a midair collision resulting in one of the skydivers becoming deceased and the second sustaining injuries requiring additional treatment at a medical facility," the sheriff's office said.
The ongoing investigation seeks to establish the precise sequence of events that led to the fatal encounter during the descent phase of the operation.
The sheriff's office clarified that the jump was part of an organized event, confirming that "scheduled group jump" parameters were in place.
Preliminary findings by the investigators show that "an in-flight collision occurred between the two skydivers during descent" before they could safely reach the ground.
Following the impact, Hubbs "reportedly became incapacitated and was no longer in control of his parachute canopy," according to the official timeline.
Drop zone personnel watched the unguided parachute drift away from the target area before losing sight of the victim.
Staff members observed and tracked Hubbs "from approximately 500 feet above ground level as he drifted north and away from the designated drop zone" during the emergency.
Witnesses at the scene provided crucial details to the responding deputies regarding the final moments of the flight.
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The victim "appeared unresponsive, with his head and arms down, before disappearing beyond a hill northeast," witnesses told authorities.
The sheriff's office noted that weather conditions were optimal during the jump and did not play a role in the accident.
"We offer our deepest condolences to those impacted by this incident," the sheriff's office said.
The skydiving company's corporate statement revealed that the contact occurred at a specific altitude where visibility or awareness may have been compromised.
"At approximately 1,000 feet above the ground, and with neither jumper aware of the other's position, the two parachutes came into contact," said West Plains Skydiving.
The facility management expressed grief over the loss of a long-term member of their local aviation community.
"The Skydive West Plains community is mourning the loss of a friend who has been part of the drop zone family for nearly a decade," the company said.
The organization also extended support to the surviving skydiver who remains under medical supervision.
"The team's thoughts are also with the second jumper and her family as she recovers," the company said.
Both individuals involved in the collision were highly experienced technical jumpers with hundreds of successful operations logged.
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The company added that Hubbs had completed more than 800 previous jumps, and that Klein had completed 900.
