A tragic midair collision over the weekend near Ritzville, Washington, has left one skydiver dead and another injured. The incident occurred on Sunday, May 24, 2026, during a routine 11-person formation jump hosted by Skydive West Plains.
According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, both individuals involved were highly experienced, licensed jumpers.
Collision at 1,000 Feet
Witnesses and facility officials reported that the initial free fall portion of the jump went smoothly. The accident occurred after both divers successfully deployed their parachutes at approximately 1,000 feet:
- The Impact: Unaware of their proximity to one another, the two jumpers suffered a canopy collision shortly after opening their chutes.
- The Fatality: Randy Hubbs, 70, of Kennewick, was rendered unresponsive by the impact. Ground staff reported seeing Hubbs dangling beneath an uncontrolled parachute before drifting over a nearby hill. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Hubbs was a regular at the facility with roughly 800 jumps under his belt.
- The Injury: Nicole Klein, 52, of Colville, survived the collision but sustained a hip injury. Klein, who has logged around 900 jumps, was transported to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have noted that weather conditions were clear and do not appear to have played a role in the accident. A formal investigation is currently being conducted by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the United States Parachute Association (USPA) to determine the exact sequence of events.
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