The fatal mistake, described by investigators as both “haunting” and “unfathomable,” shocked the skydiving community. McGuire’s final moments were captured on his helmet-mounted camera.
As he plummeted toward the Earth, realizing too late that he had no parachute, he can be heard gasping, “Oh my God, no.”
The video—now widely circulated online—has become a chilling reminder of the extreme risks associated with skydiving, even for professionals.
McGuire had been filming tandem jumps for the center when the incident occurred.
FAA inspector Walter Rigsbee noted that regulations require pilots to ensure each jumper is wearing the appropriate parachuting equipment.
“We haven’t gotten all the facts yet,” Rigsbee said at the time, “but there is a regulation… no one may jump unless the pilot checks the parachutes.”
