The incident. Skydive Pepperell's private, skydiving-only airport claims more than 60 acres for soaring steel birds at heights of 10,500 feet above ground. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and PepperellChief of Police David Scott have confirmed the death of a 60-year-old male who was an experienced skydiver. Ground training courses are held regardless of the weather conditions. WBZ-TV's Katie Brace reports. When the facility re-opens in the spring, skydivers are hoping they can learn something from this tragedy to make the sport even safer. The photographer, who authorities haven't identified, filmed Rich Gately's tandem jump for the Skydive Pepperell company on Saturday. Concord Monitor Report For America Education, Concord Monitor Report For America Health, Support the Concord Monitor. State police and the medical examiner are currently on the scene. 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. You get to enjoy 3 to 4 minutes of serenity, enjoying the New England landscape from a vantage point only few have seen. A 37-year-old man from Mattapan was killed while skydiving back in 2014. 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Plus, indoor skydiving at the exciting SkyVenture Wind Tunnelin Nashua, NH, just 15 minutes from us! PEPPERELL (CBS) -- Officials have confirmed a man died from a skydiving incident in Pepperell. Boston's premier tandem skydive Dropzone! About Skydive Pepperell All About Us Our Amazing Staff Our Facilities Special Events Annual Pepperell Boogie Contact Information Full Contact Information Map and Directions Contact Quicklinks 165 Nashua Road Pepperell, MA 01463 1-978-433-9222 1-800-SKY-JUMP manifest@skyjump.com Copyright 2023 by Pepperell Skydiving Center 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!'" Pelrine died from blunt force trauma with the ground,. Details still emerging. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1) { Equipment Sales The pair spent a few hours together before the jump getting to know each other. 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? Before you board the aircraft, you will have an understanding of how to position your body during exit, freefall, and landing. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "It's important for us not to get complacent.". Annual Pepperell Boogie; Contact Information. Once you land and collect your thoughts on this life changing experience, you might want to become a licensed skydiver yourself. She was not surprised that the death was ruled an accident. There were a lot of tears, a lot of hugging, he said. Hes jumped out of a plane about 1,500 times and said that hes had to deploy his reserve parachute on two occasions. The last time a fatal accident took place at Skydive Pepperell was in 2014. 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. Statistically, skydiving appears to be quite safe. Daniel Pelrine, 38, of Mattapan, was pronounced dead at the scene by medics shortly after 11 am, according to police spokesman John Guilfoil. The finding means that the Middlesex County District Attorneys Office has closed the case, said spokesman David Wallace on Sept. 9. "And we all train in how to deploy a reserve if something happens to the main.. Are you looking for the thrill of a lifetime? 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. 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please plan on spending 4 to 6 hours here! Goldstein said he began his day Saturday in Franklin at a prescription drug take-back day, but left early to make one more jump in Pepperell before the skydiving facility closed for the season last weekend. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. PEPPERELL A 37-year-old Boston man was killed in a skydiving accident at Skydive Pepperell on Sunday morning, but published reports indicate the man's parachute had opened. At the time of the accident, the skydiver was taking video of a student and instructor in the air after they jumped from about 10,000 feet. PEPPERELL, Mass. This is a close sport, and we have a tight community. 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Pepperell Police responded to a report at the Skydive Pepperell on Nashua Road around 3 p.m. var currentLocation = window.location; A police spokesman said Daniel Pelrine, 37, of Mattapan, Mass. Gift Certificates available online or just give us a call at 1-800-SKYJUMP! Foul play is not suspected at this point, according to the Middlesex DA. "In his honor," Gately said, "I would say that I would still go [skydiving], in his honor. Skydiving is a weather-dependent sport and certain conditions may prohibit jumping for safety reasons. The man, who was not identified, was described as an experienced skydiver, and an independent contractor who was filming jumps with the skydiving company, the statement said. The incident happened at the Skydive Pepperell facility on Nashua Road. Food You can barbecue on-site or order lunch to be delivered. Daniel Pelrine, 37, of Mattapan died in the accident at the Skydive. Skydive Pepperell is the closest dropzone to Boston and is located on the border of Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire. ", First published on October 29, 2017 / 10:05 PM. The District Attorney's Office said the victim worked as an independent contractor filming jumps with the skydiving company. Statistically, skydiving appears to be quite safe. Full Contact Information; Map and Directions; Contact Quicklinks. PEPPERELL, Mass. "That's when I heard my instructor say, 'Oh no,' and you know something was wrong, so I start to freak out.". Or maybe youre looking for that adrenaline rush you get jumping out into thin air, hitting speeds of 120 mph! We are located on a private skydiving-only airport for your safety. "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," Gately told CBS Boston. / CBS Boston. Daniel John Pelrine, 37, of Mattapan, was an experienced skydiver, according to news reports. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Daniel Pelrine, 38, of Mattapan, was pronounced dead at the scene by medics shortly after 11 am, according to police spokesman John Guilfoil. //LBtag_id.innerHTML = ''; Review of Skydive Pepperell Reviewed November 20, 2020 PEPPERELL (CBS) -- Rich Gately went skydiving for the first time this weekend. 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. PEPPERELL, Mass. The 60+ acre airport has been attentively groomed to provide a lush grassy landing area that is flat and free of obstacles. The last time a fatal accident took place at Skydive Pepperell was in 2014. That goes with it.. He was working as an independent contractor filming jumps with the skydiving company. This week, Skydive Pepperell will close for the season. We will match tandem offers from any skydiving company with a 15-plus seat turbine aircraft within 75 miles of Skydive Pepperell. When the facility re-opens in the spring, skydivers are hoping they can learn something from this tragedy to make the sport even safer. Skydive Pepperell, which operates the skydiving jumps, says the main parachute landed in a neighborhood nearby. The last time a fatal accident took place at Skydive Pepperell was in 2014. All rights reserved, After Flooding for Some, Raindrops Set to Return This Week, Why Not Help?' 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. Investigators believe something went wrong with the man's parachute. Theyve had their accidents, Blain said of Pepperell Skydive. Vending machines also on-site. Advertisement Police say Pelrine was. 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. Visit us at http://www.skyjump.com to book your skydive now! It is definitely a sport in which chaos and control are forced to co-exist, and having a healthy dose of fear, helps. 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. He was filming beginner skydivers and then jumped from the plane himself. A United States Parachute Association certified examiner will check gear and make a determination about what happened, Goldstein said. . The man worked as an independent contractor filming jumps with the skydiving company. Our standard procedure in all cases is to have the incident investigated by state police, the airport and other authorities, said Paula Philbrook, a spokeswoman for the Skydive Pepperell Center. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. It wasn't made clear if the reserve parachute deployed or not. "(He was a) very experienced jumper. "Just a fantastic person.". "He was so happy, and he just made us excited and comfortable," Gately said. Skydive Pepperell's private, skydiving-only airport claims more than 60 acres for soaring steel birds at heights of 10,500 feet above ground. It couldnt have been anything else, she said. Still, this is the second fatal accident at the Pepperell facility in three years. A police spokesman said a Boston man died after an. PEPPERELL, Mass. Jumpers descend from 10,000 to13,000feet. 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. The fatal jump happened on the last weekend of Skydive Pepperell's operational season. 60-year-old man killed in skydiving accident in Pepperell 60-year-old man killed in skydiving accident in Pepperell. Our Accellerated Freefall Program will have you licensed and jumping with your friends in no time! Police do not suspect any indication of foul play. 60-year-old man killed in skydiving accident in Pepperell, Boston 25 News facebook feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News twitter feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News youtube feed(Opens a new window), School administrators: Create a closings account, Skydiver spends hours in tree after jump takes drastic turn, Boston man dies while skydiving in Pepperell, Its gunna spread: Encampment crackdown to resume in Boston Monday, Renovate or move? View Your Skydive Video! Pepperell Skydiving Center No Reviews | Leave a Review Suggest an edit 165 Nashua Road Pepperell, Massachusetts 1463 USA Pepperell Airport (26MA) Monday 9:00 AM-7:00 PM Tuesday 9:00 AM-7:00 PM Wednesday 9:00 AM-7:00 PM Thursday 9:00 AM-7:00 PM Friday 9:00 AM-7:00 PM Saturday 8:00 AM-7:00 PM Sunday 8:00 AM-7:00 PM Subscribe Share This Dropzone: Please plan accordingly to stay for half the day potentially, as weekends can get busy. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/nVl0q9rMtR. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. PEPPERELL The medical examiner has ruled accidental the death of a skydiver of multiple, blunt trauma at the Pepperell Skydive Center on Aug. 17. The incident is under investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the Pepperell Police department, Massachusetts State Police, and the Federal Aviation Administration. BEST VIEWING AREA IN NEW ENGLAND ! **Please remember that skydiving is a half-day event. At the time of the accident, the man was taking video as instructors and students jumped from about 10,000 feet. Shelia Kelly - Another great skydive at Skydive Pepperell. Sometimes parachutists land badly or outside of the drop zone in the airport, he said. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. The aircraft that sometimes did up to twenty-five skydiving runs a day will head to Florida. This is an open and ongoing investigation conducted by the Middlesex's DA's office, Pepperell Police, State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration. Gately will do hisbest to remember the man's contagious passion, though. He had 40 years of skydiving experience. var photocredit = photocredit.toUpperCase(); Police are investigating a skydiving accident that left an experienced skydiver dead in Pepperell Sunday morning. The Pepperell dropzone is the closest one to New Hampshire, located just 45 minutes from Concord. He was working with the tandem students as a videographer," Goldstein said. The pair spent a few hours together before the jump getting to know each other. If a parachute does not fully function, a skydiver could hit the ground at up to 120 miles an hour. 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. -- A 60-year-old experienced skydiver who filmed jumps for a skydiving company died after a parachute malfunction, CBS Boston reports . The Mattapan . tag_id.innerHTML = ''; -- A 60-year-old experienced skydiver who filmed jumps for a skydiving company died after a parachute malfunction. 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. The skydiving aircraft used by Skydive Pepperell is a Twin Otter which carries about two dozen skydivers. We have taken people from ages 18 to 80, and now its your turn! Its the location most regular New Hampshire skydivers choose to jump at, Goldstein said. At Skydive Pepperell we are dedicated to the advancement of skydiving as a sport, and our instructors can further guide you towards your goals. At Skydive Pepperell, USPA licensed and certified instructors acquaint adventurers with the thrill of riding gravity back to the earth's crust. Skydiving at Pepperell Airport began in the late 1950's. The first commercial drop zone at Pepperell was opened in 1971 by Ted Strong of Strong Enterprises. Town officials agreed that skydiving carries a risk. Barefoot Boogie with Skyvan every summer. Box 279, Pepperell, MA 01463 http://www.pepperellairport.com Airport Identifier: 26 MA Unicom Frequency: 123.05 Latitude: 42 41.771667 N Longitude: 71 33.003333 W Magnetic declination: 16 degrees W A skydiver who works as an independent contractor filming jumps from airplanes was killed Saturday after what appeared to be a parachute malfunction, the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said. Pelrine was the only person involved in the jump, and he does not work for the skydiving company, according to Philbrook. The accident occurred just after 11 a.m. Police said it was unknown if Pelrine's equipment malfunctioned but the cause of death was blunt trauma from the ground. Gately's first jump would be the man's last assignment. When authorities arrived, they discovered the body of a 60-year-old man who authorities said was an experienced skydiver. A skydiver was killed in an accident in Pepperell, Massachusetts around 3 p.m. on Saturday. var tag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkskydivefolo-cm-103017,ph1'); "Very nice, very gentle, very respectful, professional, family man, yes," said David Goldstein, who works at Skydive Pepperell. 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.