Skydiving is a thrilling but dangerous – and sometimes deadly – activity. The Sacramento Bee has determined that since 1985, a staggering 28 people have died just at this one location outside Lodi, known today as the Parachute Center. Skydivers there have run into each other in midair.
They have had their parachutes malfunction. One dropped over nearby Highway 99 – and was slammed into by a semi-truck. Others have escaped mid-air mishaps, but not without serious injuries. A Bee investigation examined the situation, framed by trying to answer specific questions: How does a place where at least 28 people have died stay in business?
And what more can, or should, be done to prevent fatalities? The answers are complicated, but largely come down to this: Despite the inherent danger, skydiving is for the most part unregulated.
Skydiving is actually pretty heavily regulated… especially the gear and for tandem students.
Additionally most drop zones are also USPA affiliated which has more rules and regulations especially for sport/solo jumpers (Although Lodi isn’t)
I trust skydiving equipment and instructor training much more than bungee jumping or any other ‘extreme sport’