Space Needle Stunt Goes Awry -- Her Chute Tangled, Jumper Spirals To A Hard Landing And Hospital Trip

One of four parachutists who jumped from the Space Needle this morning as part of a television-show stunt was injured when her chute failed to open completely and she fell hard to the ground.

The jumper, Jessica Kluetmeier, 29, of New York City, was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she was being treated for lower back pain, and several bumps and bruises, and was in satisfactory condition.

Kluetmeier was injured on her second jump from the 520-foot-high observation-deck halo of Seattle's most prominent landmark. It was the first time parachutists have been allowed to legally jump from the Needle since it was built in 1962.

About 100 spectators were on hand for the eight jumps, which were part of a promotion for The World BASE (Building, Antenna, Span and Earth) Association, to which the parachutists belong and for a segment on the television-tabloid show, "American Journal."

Those spectators watched in horror as Kluetmeier jumped and opened her chute, only to have what appeared to be a "steering line" get tangled in the chute. As a result, Kluetmeier fell spinning nearly out of control to the ground and landed hard.

A fellow jumper, Steve Mulholland, said Kluetmeier was able to adjust the tangled line, but still landed hard on a grassy area at the base of the Needle.

"Everything considered, I think she did a great job," Mulholland said. Kluetmeier had to deal with high falling speed and had only a short distance to make any adjustments to help brake her fall.

"I've seen thousands of base jumps. This is the first time I've seen this happen. . . . It's an unfortunate incident," he said.

Kluetmeier, who was conscious and talking when taken to the hospital, has made hundreds of jumps from many different vantage points, including cliffs, buildings and airplanes.

Lynn Brackpool, marketing manager for the Space Needle, said no money was paid to the facility for the event.

"It was a one-time event," she said, "I doubt we will do any other jumps."

The segment on the jumpers will be the lead story on tonight's broadcast of "American Journal" at 7:30 p.m. on KING-TV.