DUNNELLON, Fla. — A jumpmaster who died during a WWII-style static-line parachuting exercise has been identified as a former member of the Ukrainian Army who was living in Italy.
The victim, Dmytro Zinchenko, 49, registered 147 military jumps in his career, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
He died Friday after falling nearly 1,200 feet from a small plane at Marion County Airport near Dunnellon, officials said.
The incident was reported about 5:30 p.m. while Zinchenko was engaging in military-style parachuting with a group of jumpers, said Lauren
Lettelier, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.
"According to witnesses in the plane, the victim was kneeling by the jump door when his reserve chute accidentally deployed and pulled him from the aircraft,"
Letteliersaid. "Witnesses say the victim hit the side of the plane and then fell to the ground."
Investigators said it's unclear if the man's military-style parachute fully deployed.
There were 12 people on the plane when it took off – eight jumpers and two observers, investigators said.
The other seven jumpers had already left the plane when Zinchenko fell, the MCSO said.
The investigation into his death is continuing.
Cox Media Group
