Skydiver dies after midair collision with another jumper during group jump in Washington state

Fatal Skydiving Accident Near Colville Claims Life of Experienced Jumper

Adams County, Washington – A tragic mid‑air collision during a scheduled group skydiving jump at West Plains Skydiving left one participant dead and another injured. The incident, which occurred Sunday evening around 5:30 p.m., took place near Colville and was investigated by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO).

The crash involved two seasoned skydivers, Randy Hubbs of the Kennewick area and Nicole Klein of Colville. Both used personally owned equipment and were described by the skydiving club as highly experienced; Hubbs had completed more than 800 jumps, while Klein had logged nearly 900. The jump was part of a group session that included eleven individuals.

According to the ACSO, deputies were dispatched after a medical emergency call was received in the 2000 block of E. Schoessler Road. Upon arrival, they learned that a mid‑air collision had occurred, killing one skydiver and leaving the other with injuries that required medical treatment.

Witnesses at the drop site reported that Hubbs collided with Klein during the descent. The impact left him unresponsive; his head and arms went limp, and he was no longer in control of his parachute canopy. Observers noted that Hubbs drifted northward away from the designated drop zone before disappearing beyond a nearby hill. Deputies were able to track him from approximately 500 feet above the ground until the point of disappearance.

Klein sustained injuries that required transport to a medical facility, but she survived the incident. The ACSO confirmed that weather conditions were not a factor in the accident.

West Plains Skydiving released a statement noting that both jumpers were experienced and that the club’s operations have a strong safety record. The company offered its deepest condolences to those affected by the tragedy.

Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the collision. “We are investigating a fatal skydiving incident that occurred at West Plains Skydiving involving two jumpers during a scheduled group jump,” the ACSO said in a post on Facebook. “On scene, Deputies learned of a mid‑air collision resulting in one of the skydivers becoming deceased and the second sustaining injuries requiring additional treatment at a medical facility.”

The coroner’s office has taken custody of the deceased, and the investigation remains ongoing. The community has expressed shock and grief, with local officials and members of the skydiving community mourning the loss of a veteran jumper.