Freak accident kills skydiving instructor

WALTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County man was killed in a freak skydiving accident at a skydiving facility where he is also an instructor.

For 20 years, Joe Bennett, 49, jumped out of planes and soared through skies, landing safely each and every time.

But Saturday afternoon, the expert skydiver made a mistake that likely cost him his life.

"He just misjudged his turn from final approach to landing. Started in too low," close friend and Bennett's boss Bill Scott told Channel 2's Nefertiti Jaquez.

Scott owns SkyDive Monroe at the Monroe-Walton County Airport where Bennett worked as an instructor.

“It's very rare. You say, 'Wow you never saw that one coming,' with someone who has that kind of experience," Scott said.

The duo met in 1993 and instantly hit it off.

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On Saturday, Scott was by his friend’s side after the tragedy and called 911.

Scott said Bennett miscalculated the landing and was seriously hurt.

"He was conscious and breathing and aware," Scott said.

But an hour after he was airlifted him to Grady Memorial Hospital, Bennett died from his injuries.

While grief-stricken, his skydiving family lowered the flag outside of the facility at half-staff and made a jump in Bennett's honor Sunday.

They glided through the skies because that is how they honor their friends.

"He as a good guy, skydiver, friend," Scott told Jaquez.

Friends and family have set up a GoFundMe account for Bennett's family.

Cox Media Group