Skydiver Dies After Legs Are Severed in Midair Collision WIth Plane

[matcom]

<snip>

DELAND, Fla. -- A skydiving cinematographer was killed after his legs were severed in a midair collision with the airplane he had jumped from, authorities said.

Albert "Gus" Wing III had already deployed his parachute Saturday when he struck the left wing of the DHC-6 Twin Otter propeller plane at about 600 feet, a witness on the ground told police.

Both of Wing's legs were severed at the knees, but he managed to maneuver his parachute and land near the DeLand Airport, about 40 miles north of Orlando, DeLand Police Cmdr. Randel Henderson said.

He was airlifted to a hospital, where he later died, Henderson said.

Fourteen other skydivers were in the air at the time of the accident, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Holly Baker said. The plane landed safely.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were investigating.

Authorities said they were not certain whether Wing had been filming at the time of the accident and no camera was found.

Wing owned a production company, Flying Wings Production, according to the Web site of the company that organized Saturday's jump, Skydive DeLand.

http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/4411486/detail.html

[Zuni]

1. He died doing what he loved best

recieving an emergency blood transfusion in a florida hospital

[tavalon]

3. ROFL!

Totally not the comment I expected!

[RebelOne]

2. That is so sad. But he did know the risks.

I had a short stint at skydiving. But after 6 jumps and all kinds of near catastrophes, I decided to stay in the plane and learn to fly it instead.

[tavalon]

4. Oh, yeah, like that's safe! n/t

[RebelOne]

5. Much safer than jumping out of one. n/t

[Cannikin]

6. I'll never jump out of a plane that still has both wings.