Terry Gardner: Arizona skydiver, 73, dies while trying a formation with friends as his parachute fails to open

ELOY, ARIZONA: A skydiving accident in Arizona claimed the life of a 73-year-old man who was on his third jump of the day with his friends.

Terry Gardner, of Casa Grande, suffered a hard landing when his parachute did not fully open during the jump, according to police.

Terry Gardner and his friends planned a formation jump at 14,000 feet

The incident occurred on January 31, in Eloy, Arizona, about 70 miles south of Phoenix. Gardner and his three friends, who were also experienced skydivers, had planned a formation jump from an altitude of approximately 14,000 feet, the Eloy Police Department said in a statement.

"While they were unable to complete the intended formation, it is not believed that this contributed to the accident,” the statement said.

Gardner’s parachute deployed at the predetermined altitude, but witnesses could see that there was a problem involving the main parachute, the Skydive Arizona said in a statement.

Gardner did not deploy the reserve parachute and the gear, as per the Skydive Arizona, was owned and maintained by the jumper while the weather conditions were clear and calm.

Terry Gardner died at the hospital despite life-saving efforts

Police said the other skydivers safely landed "without any issues." It further said, "Unfortunately, Terry's parachute deployed, but unexpected complications arose, resulting in a hard landing without a fully deployed parachute."

Eloy Fire personnel quickly administered life-saving measures and rushed Gardner to the Casa Grande Banner hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries, police said.

Authorities are unsure if there were any issues with the parachute, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will conduct a full investigation to determine the cause of the complications, police said. 

Skydive Arizona said in a statement that the free-fall portion of the skydive was “uneventful and went as planned.”

The company said its staff is fully cooperating with local authorities as they investigate the incident.

Skydiving community mourns loss of ‘expert’ and ‘organizer’ Terry Gardner 

According to Sara Curtis, Eloy's Vice Mayor and a longtime skydiver, Gardner was a passionate and skilled skydiver who helped others learn the sport.

“He died doing what he loved and pursuing his passions and his dreams,” Curtis told CBS 5.

“He was an organizer, which means he led people on jumps. He was sort of an expert skydiver that helped other people learn,” he added.

Curtis said Eloy is known for its large skydiving community, and they are all devastated to lose one of their own. She remembered Gardner’s zest for life and kind heart.

“I’d just like to say to Terry’s family, we’re with you, we all love you, we all love Terry, and we’re just so sorry that this happened,” Curtis said.

She said she had fond memories of jumping with Gardner and that his wife used to work at Skydive Arizona, the company that operated the plane from which Gardner jumped.

"Our sport lost one of its own: a highly experienced & longtime skydiver, load organizer and cherished friend," a friend Randy Forbes posted on Facebook.

"Our hearts go out to the family and friends of our skydiving brother. Blue skies, Terry," Forbes added.

Terry Gardner celebrated his 7000 Jump Achievement Award in, 2022.