A tragic skydiving accident in Adams County, Washington, has left one experienced skydiver dead and another injured after a midair collision during a group jump Sunday evening near Ritzville, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities identified the deceased as Randy Hubbs, 70, of Kennewick. The second skydiver involved, Nicole Klein, 52, of Colville, suffered injuries and was transported to a hospital following the incident. Officials said Klein sustained a hip injury and is expected to make a full recovery.
The accident occurred during an 11-person group jump hosted by Skydive West Plains near East Schoessler Road off Interstate 90. Emergency crews were dispatched around 5:30 p.m. after reports of a medical emergency involving skydivers.
According to statements released by investigators and Skydive West Plains, both Hubbs and Klein were licensed, highly experienced jumpers. Hubbs had reportedly completed around 800 dives, while Klein had logged approximately 900.
Witnesses said the pair appeared to experience a normal free fall after exiting the aircraft. Both successfully deployed their parachutes at roughly 1,000 feet, but investigators say the parachutes later collided while the two were apparently unaware of each other’s positions.
Staff on the ground reportedly noticed Hubbs appeared incapacitated and unable to control his parachute as he descended. Witnesses observed him drifting away from the designated landing zone before disappearing beyond a nearby hill. Authorities later confirmed he died at the scene. Officials have not yet determined whether his death was caused directly by the collision or by subsequent events during the descent.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office stated that weather conditions do not appear to have contributed to the accident. The incident remains under investigation, with assistance from the United States Parachute Association.
In a statement, Skydive West Plains expressed sorrow over the loss, describing Hubbs as a longtime member of the drop zone community. The company said it remains committed to maintaining the highest safety and training standards while cooperating fully with investigators.