Investigation underway after prop accident death

According to Lt. Eric Slay of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Amanda Gallagher, 37 and a resident of Wichita, was taking a photo of people loading a plane at 2:40 PM CDT when she failed to get outside the propeller arc of the Cessna 182 and was seriously injured.

The aircraft was operated by Air Capital Drop Zone (ACDZ). According to Martin Myrtle, the company’s owner, Gallagher was a skydiver who had been on board the plane to take photos. Instead of jumping with the previous customers, she stayed on board when the plane landed and then got out to take photos of the next group of jumpers.

According to a statement from Myrtle, while the next group of jumpers was loading, Gallagher moved in front of the wing, a violation of basic safety procedures. With her camera raised to take pictures, as she did so she stepped back slightly, moving toward and into the spinning propeller.”

Gallagher was taken to a local hospital but died from her injuries a short time later.

According to Myrtle, Gallagher has been with the ACZZ for a few months and made her first jump a month ago and a “handful of jumps” since then.

As part of the initial jump course, customers receive a briefing and training on safety protocols, including warnings on avoiding the propeller arc. When the propeller turns, it moves so fast that it seems to disappear, making it easy for you to get into danger.

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the accident.