North Central Airport, R.I. – September 30, 2002
Skydiving Accident
On September 30, 2002, Suzanne Costa, 35, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, went to North Central State Airport in Smithfield, Rhode Island, to do some skydiving. This was to be her 17th jump.
When Costa jumped, she landed near a Cessna aircraft that was getting ready to take off with other skydivers aboard. 22-year-old Daren Fiske was assisting the skydivers get aboard when he saw Costa land in front of the plane. Her parachute fell across the spinning prop and she was pulled in. At the same instant, Fiske tackled Costa and held on as the pilot quickly cut the engine.
Although seriously injured, Costa recovered from her injuries.
Sources:
Providence Journal, “Skydiver Entangled In Plane’s Propeller”, by Michael Corkery, September 30, 2002
Boston Herald, “Skydiver Survives Propeller Accident”, by Franci Richardson, October 1, 2002.