From staff reports
REEDSVILLE - An experienced skydiver from Centre County died shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday in Brown Township as a result of a skydiving accident, according to a report from Mifflin County Coroner Dan Lynch.
The report states Chris Brown, 53, of State College, was skydiving with two other individuals near the Mifflin County Airport Saturday morning. Witnesses reported that Brown's main chute opened but became tangled, causing him to spiral to the ground and land in a farm field near the airport, the report said. His emergency chute did not open for unknown reasons, the report said. The report states that Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.
Brown jumped from the plane at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the report states, and was diving with Skydive Happy Valley, which is headquartered at the airport, according to its website.
A representative from the Mifflin County Regional Police Department said there were five people on board the plane: Brown, two other jumpers, a pilot and a manager/safety training advisor from the skydiving company.
The incident is under investigation by the coroner, MCRPD and the Federal Aviation Administration, according to the report. Attempts to reach Skydive Happy Valley and Mifflin County Airport for comment were unsuccessful as of press time Sunday.
