In a tragic turn of events, 26-year-old pilot Melanie Georger lost her life in a “fluke” accident shortly after a group of skydivers exited her single-engine Cessna in upstate New York. The incident occurred on Saturday as Georger attempted to land the aircraft on the Niagara Scenic Parkway, about 15 miles from Niagara Falls.
Details of the Incident
The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the crash, stating that the plane went down just off the parkway, near Fort Niagara. Sheriff Michael Filicetti highlighted the fortunate placement of the crash, given that the area was filled with soccer players at the time. “We’re lucky where it landed, but it is an unfortunate incident,” Filicetti remarked in an interview with WIVB on Sunday.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the incident. Initial reports indicate that Georger had successfully discharged her passengers and was en route to pick up another group when the crash occurred.
Witness Accounts
One of the skydivers, Jeffrey Walker, recounted his experience, having exited the plane about 30 minutes before the crash. “Everything was great,” Walker said. “It was great weather, low winds, very calm winds. Everybody was excited. Everybody was in a good mood.”
Walker expressed his shock upon hearing about the crash, describing it as a “fluke accident.” He added, “It’s not like skydiving planes once a week fall out of the sky and you just kind of dodge it. This is a fluke accident. Something went wrong.”
Remembering Melanie Georger
Melanie Georger was employed by Skydive the Falls in Youngstown, New York. She was on the cusp of realizing her dream of flying for the airlines. In a heartfelt Facebook post, her father, Paul Georger, mourned her sudden loss. “Friends and family, my life as I know it ended today. My beloved daughter, my best friend and one of the two lights of my life passed away suddenly today,” he wrote.
He continued, “Melanie Georger was a pilot, on the cusp of realizing her dream to fly for the airlines. She was doing what she loved, flying for a local skydiving company when her plane crashed. She had discharged her passengers and was flying back to pick another load when she crashed. Kelli, Tim, and I are devastated. She was only 26.”
A Surreal Experience
Walker, who had his first skydiving experience that day, described feeling calm and excited. “I never even got nervous at the door ready to jump,” he said. The crash left him with a profound sense of gratitude and disbelief. “For some reason, God left me on Earth and I’m just blessed to still be around,” he reflected. “It’s just an eerie feeling that I was on that plane literally a half-hour before it crashed. Why didn’t it crash with us on it? Why didn’t it crash with more people on it? It’s surreal.”
Safety Measures and Community Response
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NTSB are set to conduct a thorough investigation. The crash site will be secured until the investigation is complete.
The local community and skydiving enthusiasts have expressed their condolences and support for Georger’s family and the Skydive the Falls team. Despite the tragedy, Walker remains undeterred about skydiving in the future, emphasizing the rarity of such accidents.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. As investigations continue, the aviation and skydiving communities mourn the loss of a promising young pilot who lived her dream until her last flight.
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