Sky-Diving Accident Leaves 1 Man Dead and 1 Injured

A Virginia man was fatally injured and a Washington man was also injured in a sky-diving accident Sunday in Orange, Va., state police said.

Police said the two came in contact about 200 feet above the ground, and their chutes became tangled and then collapsed.

Francis Wootten III of Ruckersville, Va., 54, was taken to the University of Virginia's hospital in Charlottesville, where he died of his injuries yesterday morning.

Robert G. Kotenko, 29, the Washington man, was also taken to the U-Va. hospital, police said.

Sgt. F.L. Tyler of the Virginia State Police said the incident occurred about 1 p.m. at the Orange County airport, where a sky-diving club is active.

He said Wootten and Kotenko were among about 20 sky divers who jumped from an airplane, intending to land at the airport.

Tyler said state police are investigating.

Skydive Orange, a parachuting club, operates at the Orange airport, which is on Route 20 in Orange County, about 80 miles southwest of Washington.

Ned Wulin, a board member of the club, said he understood that Wootten had made about 25 jumps. He believed that Kotenko had made more than 1,000.

He said he had not been at the scene Sunday and did not have details about the incident.

The club's Web site describes its airplane as a two-engine Super Otter, which can carry 22 skydivers.

Jumps are usually made from about 13,500 feet, Wulin said.

Incidents such as Sunday's are rare, he said, "fortunately."