Justin “Spidey” Fuller Became Detached from His Student, Who Survived

A beloved Nashville skydiving instructor, 35-year-old Justin “Spidey” Fuller, died on October 4 after reportedly getting stuck to the side of the airplane and detaching from his rig. The student’s reserve parachute luckily deployed, dropping him into a tree to be rescued by fire department personnel.

Police say that the fatal incident occurred at around 1:00 pm local time on October 4 near John C. Tune Airport (JWN) in Nashville, Tennessee. Fuller and his student, a 46-year-old first-time jumper, became stuck on the side of the aircraft while attempting to jump. It is unclear exactly how Fuller became separated from the rig, though some claim that he cut himself off from the equipment to save the student’s life, leaving him to fall without a parachute.

The student began to descend before his reserve parachute automatically deployed. He moved slowly towards the ground before getting caught around 60 feet in the air on a treetop. Emergency crews, including Metro Nashville Police helicopters and the local fire department, spent hours setting up a pulley and ladder system to pull the student down. He was treated on-site and transported to a nearby hospital to check for any other injuries. Fuller was found around a mile and a half away in a field.

The accident comes just four months after Fuller escaped another skydiving mishap, this time involving the aircraft. The Skydive Tennessee Twin Otter experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff, striking trees before hitting the ground. Several of the 20 people on board were injured, but there were no fatalities. Despite the scare, Fuller remained dedicated to his craft.

“Having been able to reflect, all I can say is I’m grateful. I’m here, my friends on the plane are still here, and we are all going to continue on with our lives,” he said at the time. “I’ve already been back in the air 10 times and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Live life to the fullest and don’t take any days for granted.”

Fuller began working at Go Skydive Nashville less than a month before the incident after spending six seasons with Skydive Tennessee in Tullahoma. Over his more than 5,000-jump career, he was known for his enthusiasm, humor, and selflessness, becoming the embodiment of passion for the sport that he loved.

FMI: https://goskydivenashville.com