Reserve Chute Is Blamed For Skydiver's Death

The malfunction of a reserve parachute has been blamed for the death of a skydiver who was pulled from an airplane and into its tail section.

Cal Jay Sunkel, 22, of Issaquah died Saturday near Harvey Field.

Jamey Woodward, owner of the Snohomish Parachute Center, said the reserve chute popped out, stretched behind the airplane, and pulled Sunkel into the plane's stabilizer. He then fell 4,000 feet.

Elliott Woodall of the Snohomish County sheriff's office said the pilot was able to land the twin-engine aircraft safely at Paine Field in Everett.

Woodall said nine skydivers were aboard the plane. Several were knocked from the plane as it plummeted 500 feet during the incident, but all except Sunkel parachuted safely to the ground.

Deputies found Sunkel's body just off the west side of Highway 9. Less than 100 yards away, on the east side of the highway, was part of the aircraft's horizontal stabilizer.

The National Transportation Safety Board was investigating the accident.

The Snohomish Parachute Center is the largest operation of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. About 15,000 jumps take place each year at the center.

Woodward said Sunkel had made more than 700 jumps, starting when he was 16.