Woman killed in DeLand skydiving accident identified

Jessica Edgeington, 33, dies after parachute canopies collide

DeLAND, Fla. – Police are investigating the death of a 33-year-old woman killed in a skydiving accident Wednesday afternoon in DeLand.

[LISTEN:  911 call]

Officials on Thursday identified the woman as Jessica Edgeington, of Villa Rica, Georgia, who jumped from a Skydive DeLand airplane.

Edgeington was described as an expert skydiver and licensed canopy pilot. She was part of a competitive skydiving team called PD Factory Team and had done more than 6,000 jumps.

Edgeington was in DeLand as a military contract instructor.

Fire officials said the fatal accident happened just after 4 p.m. in the center of the DeLand Municipal Airport.

The crash was caused by "the mid-air collision of two parachute canopies," according to officials, but no other details were released.

In a 911 call released Thursday, a woman told the dispatcher, "It was a canopy collision.  Two parachutes that came at each other, hit each other."

"We extend our condolences to Jessica's family and her colleagues," Skydive DeLand said in a statement released Thursday.  "Everyone in our community is deeply saddened by her loss. Jessica was a frequent visitor to DeLand in her capacity as a military contract instructor. Skydive DeLand has investigated in cooperation with officials from the city of DeLand and found nothing in its equipment or procedures that affected this incident."

Local 6 has confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.  The National Transportation Safety Board will also be conducting its own investigation.

It's the second parachuting death in DeLand this year and the ninth since 2005.  A U.S. Navy SEAL from New Hampshire died in January while parachute training in DeLand.

The U.S. Parachute Association tells Local 6 two deaths months apart is unusual but not unheard of, depending on if the skydiving place is a high volume facility.

Check back with ClickOrlando.com for more on this developing story.


About the Authors:

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became an Investigator in 2020. During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

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