Illinois man dies in first skydive
Posted July 04, 2008 11:00 pm
TAYLORVILLE -- Authorities in Christian County say a man making his first skydive has died in a Fourth of July parachute accident.
Coroner Amy Calvert Winans says 54-year-old Tony David Vieira of Glenarm died Friday near the Taylorville Municipal Airport. She says the accident is under investigation by Taylorville, Christian County and Federal Aviation Administration authorities.
Officials say an autopsy is scheduled for Saturday. They say earlier in the day Vieira said he was making his first parachute jump.
The State Journal-Register newspaper in Springfield reports two other skydivers have died in accidents since 1997 at the Taylorville airport. The airport is headquarters for the Mid America Sport Parachute club.