Latest news with #AnnWick
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
FAA investigating Minnesota woman's skydiving death in Arizona
The Federal Aviation Administration says it is investigating a Jan. 24 skydiving accident in Eloy in which a Minnesota woman died after complications with her parachute. "The FAA investigations of skydiving accidents and incidents typically focus on inspecting the packing of the parachute and reserve parachute, and rules of flight for the pilot and aircraft," the agency said in a written statement. It said the investigation would not involve investigating the cause of the event. Ann Wick, 55, a Burnsville, Minnesota native, is believed to have done several jumps Jan. 24 at the skydiving facility in Eloy, Skydive Arizona. The police say she was at least on her fifth jump when the accident happened. Wick was a breast cancer survivor who had more than 250 skydiving jumps under her belt, her family said. She is survived by two children, Rosalie, 22, and Charlie, 23. A GoFundMe account set up by the Wick's brother, Jeff Wallis, has raised more than $12,000. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: FAA investigating Minnesota woman Ann Wick's skydiving death in Arizona
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Experienced skydiver dies in Arizona, leads to FAA investigation
The Brief Ann Wick, 55, had 267 career skydiving jumps before a fatal accident in Eloy took her life last week. Her parachute fully deployed but during the landing phase, new issues arose. The FAA is investigating the equipment and procedures that led to the crash. ELOY, Ariz. - A tragic skydiving accident led to the death of a 55-year-old woman in Eloy, Arizona last week. Witnesses say the woman's parachute fully deployed, but it's still unclear what happened. We spoke with a skydiving instructor and a close friend of the victim. What they're saying Ann Wick was experienced with hundreds of jumps under her belt. Friends say she traveled all over the country to skydive. They say this was a tragic accident. "It's just an absolute tragedy," said Josh Zerlan, a skydiving instructor and friend of Ann. "Especially someone like her who is just a warm, caring person." Ann had 267 jumps at 55 years old. The mother of two children took on a new hobby later in life, craving the feeling of freedom. "It's you and it's the wide-open sky and you don't have to worry about anything as soon as you leave that door. And I think she enjoyed that," said Zerlan. The backstory Arizona is one of many states the Minnesota native has jumped from. Five years ago, Ann Wick took a trip to Florida where she met a lifelong friend in Zerlan. "We have a bond, you know, because of the nature of our hobby or profession," said Zerlan. "She found a home within that." This trip to the Valley was about female employment in the sport. An annual jump with "sis" or sisters in skydiving, when things took a turn. "The jump was clean," Zerlan said. Zerlan says it was a jump of four skydivers. All the parachutes were fully deployed, but for Wick, the problems came at the end. Dig deeper Witnesses say the canopy was turning, but no corrective actions were taken. "The problems occurred towards the end of the canopy ride. When you're starting to form up for landing, some of the most dangerous times during a skydive is during the landing," said Zerlan. In a statement to FOX 10, Sky Dive Arizona says the following: "The community is saddened by the loss of a cherished member of the Skydiving family. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. Skydive Arizona is cooperating fully with local authorities to assist in the investigation of this incident and remains committed to upholding the highest safety standards." Zerlan says every parachute is required to have an emergency chute in this case her reserve chute was not deployed. The FAA and other agencies are looking into the equipment and procedures surrounding Wick's death. What you can do For anyone looking to help Ann and her family, donations are being accepted on a GoFundMe page.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
Stillwater woman's parachute ‘fully' deployed before fatal incident, company officials say
Officials at an Arizona skydiving company say Ann Wick's parachute fully deployed 'as designed' before her death on Friday. Wick, 55, of Stillwater, died around 4:10 p.m. Friday in the fatal parachute incident at Skydive Arizona in Eloy, Ariz. The investigation into her death continues, said Capt. Brian Jerome of the Eloy Police Department. Skydive Arizona officials wrote in a statement to People magazine that eyewitnesses reported the free-fall phase of the skydive 'appeared normal, with the parachute deploying as expected.' 'Despite the parachute fully deploying as designed, observers noted the canopy was turning,' the statement to People read. 'No corrective actions appeared to be taken by the jumper, nor was the reserve parachute deployed. The injuries sustained during landing proved fatal.' Company officials told People they were 'saddened by the loss of a cherished member of the skydiving family. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.' Skydive Arizona officials also said they are cooperating with authorities to assist them in the investigation. Police said Wick died after 'experiencing complications during descent' at Skydive Arizona, which is billed as 'the world's largest skydiving center.' First responders initiated lifesaving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy has been conducted, but the medical examiner has not yet released a cause of death, Jerome said. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration took Wick's pack, helmet, altimeter and canopy to examine, he said. FAA officials said Wednesday that the agency will investigate how the main and reserve parachutes were packed as well as flight rules for the pilot and aircraft. If the FAA doesn't find any evidence of regulatory violations, the case will be turned over to Eloy police. Crime & Public Safety | Here are winners of Washington County's Name a Snowplow contest. Voting for the Minnesota contest starts next. Crime & Public Safety | Wisconsin town hall participants urge pulling plug on Xcel Energy solar farm Crime & Public Safety | Stillwater woman dies in skydiving accident in Arizona Crime & Public Safety | Former Washington County Sheriff's Office deputy sues for alleged sexual harassment Crime & Public Safety | White Bear Lake assistant fire chief tapped to be Mahtomedi chief Wick, a registered nurse and the mother of two, was an experienced parachutist who had jumped '300 to 400 times,' said her brother, Jeff Wallis, who lives in South St. Paul. She took up the sport around the same time she graduated from nursing school a few years ago, he said. She had previously gone to Skydive Arizona to jump and had traveled there for the weekend to participate in an all-women's jump, he said A GoFundMe online fundraiser ( has been created to help her family cover funeral expenses and educational and housing costs; Wick is survived by two children. Organizers hope to raise $50,000.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Yahoo
Stillwater woman dies in skydiving accident in Arizona
A Stillwater woman died Friday afternoon in a parachuting accident in Eloy, Ariz., police said. Ann Wick, 55, died around 4 p.m. Friday after 'experiencing complications during descent' at Skydive Arizona, which is billed as the largest skydiving facility in the United States. First responders initiated lifesaving measures, but Wick was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration 'and other relevant agencies will conduct a thorough review of equipment, procedures, and circumstances surrounding the incident,' Eloy police said in a news release. Further details will be released as they become available, police said. Eloy is located about 65 miles southeast of Phoenix. Crime & Public Safety | Former Washington County Sheriff's Office deputy sues for alleged sexual harassment Crime & Public Safety | White Bear Lake assistant fire chief tapped to be Mahtomedi chief Crime & Public Safety | Hudson Hot Air Affair floats into new location this year Crime & Public Safety | Inmates' help sought in Lake Elmo woman's 1988 disappearance Crime & Public Safety | Bremer Bank exec charged with felony swindle in sale of Duck Donuts stores
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Skydive Arizona: Woman who died in incident did not appear to pull reserve parachute
Skydive Arizona, the Eloy-based company that saw a Minnesota woman fall to her death during a parachuting incident on Friday, released a statement offering condolences to her friends and family. "The Skydive Arizona community is saddened by the loss of a cherished member of the skydiving family," the company said in a statement. Ann Wick, 55, was skydiving when she encountered a problem during her descent. First responders were called to Skydive Arizona, near Taylor Street and Tumbleweed Road, at approximately 4:06 p.m., according to Eloy police. Medical personnel attempted life-saving measures on Wick, but she was later pronounced dead. The exact cause of death was still under investigation as of Sunday afternoon. Skydive Arizona said witnesses reported the freefall phase of Wick's skydive appeared normal, and the parachute deployed but noted its canopy was turning. "No corrective actions appeared to be taken by the jumper, nor was the reserve parachute deployed," the company said. "The injuries sustained during landing proved fatal." Wick completed 267 jumps before her death, Skydive Arizona said. The company said it was fully cooperating with authorities in the investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration, along with other agencies, will be reviewing the equipment, procedures and circumstances surrounding the incident, police said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Skydive Arizona comments on woman's death during parachuting incident
