Tragic Accident Under Investigation

Aero-News Network is saddened to report that Sergeant First-Class Michael “Ty” Kettenhofen lost his life in a 13 March 2023 training mishap at Florida’s Homestead Air Reserve Base. Kettenhofen had served with the Army’s elite Golden Knights parachute demonstration team since 2020.

In a statement, the U.S. Army Recruiting Command set forth that Sergeant Kettenhofen had succumbed to injuries sustained during what should have been a routine jump. What went wrong remains unclear, and the Army—excepting an assurance that the accident remains under investigation—declined to provide further details.

A graduate of the U.S. Army’s Jumpmaster School, Sergeant Kettenhofen was a highly experienced parachutist who’d made over one-thousand jumps during his military career. Kettenhofen enlisted in the Army in 2006, serving as an infantryman throughout multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Golden Knights' commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Andy Moffit described Kettenhofen as “loved, admired and respected” among his Army peers—the entirety of which valued his “sense of humor, joy of life” and formidable parachute skills.

In a statement, Lieutenant Colonel Moffit remarked: “The U.S. Army Parachute Team is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own. Our hearts and faith are with his family and friends as we grieve and heal with them. Ty will be honored and remembered as a Golden Knight, soldier, and friend.”

Though based at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg, the Golden Knights spend much of the winter availing themselves of Florida’s weather, which is eminently conducive to practicing the science and art of skydiving.

Comprising several expert teams of skydivers, pilots, parachute riggers, and logisticians, the Golden Knights are a component of the U.S. Army’s Recruiting Command, which strives to engender interest in military service among those who witness its personnel perform the highly technical parachute maneuvers for which the Golden Knights are internationally renowned.

Aero-News Network extends its condolences to the family and friends of Sergeant First-Class Michael Kettenhofen, for whose outstanding service and demonstrable commitment to excellence we are deeply and sincerely grateful.

FMI: www.goarmy.com/golden-knights.html