The 16-Year-Old Girl Injured In A Skydiving Accident Was Not The Fault Of The Oklahoma-Based Skydive Company, So Says The FAA

In January of this year news reports abounded about a skydive accident in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Most of the news reports seemed to focus on the fact that the Mackenzie Wethington was only 16 years old. But was the age really a key factor in what went wrong?

Skydiving is regulated under Federal Aviation Regulations but none of these regulations address a minimum age. When the FAA investigated this particular accident, age was not the focus in the investigation targeting the skydive operation. The FAA finding was that the equipment was in good condition and properly prepared as required by FAA rules.

The FAA also found that an instructor on the ground was in radio communication with Wethington and issued instructions based on her training to deal with the problem of a tangled parachute line. According to reports, The FAA concluded that Wethington panicked and even Wethington reported that she blacked out.

While the FAA has no age specifications for skydiving, the United States Parachute Association (USPA) did, at the time of the accident, have a minimum age guideline of 16 years old provided a parent had provided written approval. Without written approval the USPA guideline required a skydiver operating under their auspices to be at least 18 years old.

Many commercial skydive operations operate under USPA voluntary rules. However, they are not required to do so. A couple of months after the accident USPA revised their safety rules to a universal minimum age of 18 years old. At the time this USPA rule change was made, they said the age limit had been under consideration for a while and this change had nothing to do with the accident.

While the minimum age may be arbitrary, there are other practical considerations. Skydive parachute equipment comes in several sizes, styles and  performance capabilities, and is often customize to the physical fit and needs of the skydiver. It is not a “one size fits all” endeavor. For this reason a lower end age limit can be helpful but all factors must be considered for safety. The skydiver’s physical size, weight, and the ability to comprehend the operation of the equipment all factor into the safety equation.

As with any extreme sport, things can go wrong and this day they did. According to the latest news sources, Ms. Wethington is headed towards a full recovery, and we at ANN wish her well.

FMI: www.uspa.org, www.faa.gov