![[Two skydivers freefly in red suits.] Blue Skies Magazine i113: May 2019 | On the cover: French freefly Team AirWax members Greg Crozier and Karine Joly photographed above Skydive Sebastian in Florida. Photo by Norman Kent normankent.com](/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/i113_May2019-244x300.jpg)
I’ve been sitting here trying to come up with a better way to say it, but that’s all I got: this last weekend sure sucked the mighty one. Here is the most depressing holiday news wrap-up I hope we’ll ever post.
Every one of these incident subjects had thousands of skydives over many years in the sport and was very current.
***
Mike Truffer
Mike, with his partner Sue Clifton, was founder and brains of the iconic Skydiving Magazine. The latest confirmed information we have is that he had a hard opening on a canopy he packed himself at Skydive Deland on Saturday. He was reportedly observed limp under canopy and impacted a truck in a school bus parking lot on the airport grounds. He was airlifted off scene with multiple critical injuries. He’s had an initial successful surgery, is on a ventilator, and is not expected to regain the use of his arms or legs; doctors estimate he will be a quadriplegic.
News link: Daytona Beach News Journal
***
BSBD Larry Elmore, 1940-2013
On Saturday at Skydive Palatka, World Team member Larry Elmore reportedly had a low cutaway and died upon impact. Larry was a retired commercial pilot and the Florida state record holder for most jumps in one day with 72, done on his 70th birthday in 2011.
News link: The Gainesville Sun
***
BSBD Ken Oka, 1951-2013
On Saturday at Skydive Elsinore, Ken Oka was reportedly involved in a CRW entanglement and landed in a residential neighborhood. He was transported to the hospital where he was declared dead. Ken was founder of the popular Oka Cup CRW events.
News link: CBS LA
***
BSBD Cliff Schmucker, 1955-2013
On Monday at Skydive Warren County in Ohio, SSK owner and PIA President Cliff Schmucker was involved in a freefall collision. He landed in a nearby golf course and transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
News link: WCPO
Statement from PIA:
Dear Fellow PIA Members and Friends:
It is with deepest sorrow that I inform you of the death of our dear friend, Cliff Schmucker, who was involved in a skydiving accident on Sunday, 26 May 2013, at his home DZ in Waynesville, Ohio.
Cliff served us as Parachute Industry Association president for almost 20 years, and under his leadership the sphere of influence of the PIA grew and prospered exponentially. Cliff will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
Arrangements will be announced as they develop
Respectfully,
George Galloway
PIA Executive Advisor
***
5/29: edited to correct Ken’s accident day from Sunday to Saturday
Wow. Just. Wow. My TI husband and I are sitting in our office on a rainy day with the newest issue of _Parachutist_ on the mail pile reviewing the newest TSOs–then this popped up on my feed.
To lose so many so active in the skydiving world so quickly hurts. Our thoughts are with Mike and Sue as they begin traveling an entirely different journey. They are also with the families left behind.
Wow, I knew a couple of these peeps. . .this is too much in one weekend. Fair skies and fair winds to those that moved beyond. . .
Fuck
blues skies friends——–
Note that those involved were VERY experienced jumpers…. NONE of us is so experienced, so skilled, or so smart as to be immune to bad, bad stuff.
I am taking this as reminder for me to pay attention to the fundamentals of skydiving safety.
I had experienced bad weekends but this has been the worst I can ever remember.
A major loss all around for the Skydive community. BSBD to all 3 that passed and a quick recovery to Mike Truffer. My thoughts go out to all.
My condolences to these jumpers’ family, friends, and to the skydiving community in general.
DAMN
Hard to believe… My condolence to families and friends of those who left us.
Yep. Pretty much sucked! RIP to some wonderful people.
Wasn’t there two at Z-hills too?
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/24/florida-skydive-instructor-student-killed-in-florida-jump/
This incident happened the weekend of March 22. I remember because we were in USPA BOD meetings.
Sad news :( Blue Skies from the UK
So sad to learn of these losses and of Mikes incapacity. All of these skydivers were very experienced and had been great assets to the sport, if ever there was a time for us all to reflect, this must surely be one of those times. RIP Larry, Ken & Cliff and all good thoughts to Mike for a full recovery.
I have to censor myself because I’m on the USPA BOD as NC Regional Director. Here’s an insider view of my thoughts
I hate the standard “He died doing what he loved” comment. I have loved thousands of successful skydives. There have been a couple of ones when I should have died. I fought through them and survived. I did love it, but when we got to 7000′ I did not love any part of that portion of that skydive. My point is… even if you have lots of skydives, shit happens. I hate it when we can’t make it better. All of us feel sad. Love you Cliff! xx
[…] Truffer, the man behind the much beloved Skydiving Magazine has passed away from injuries sustained on a jump during Memorial Day […]