By Mark Scott
Wilson, NY – A skydiving plane with six people aboard crashed Sunday at an airfield in the Niagara County community of Wilson.
The plane was flying members of the Frontier Skydivers group when it went down around 2pm. The Cessna 185, had six people aboard, according to John Huber, Frontier Skydivers safety and training adviser. Mercy Flight helicopters and ambulances carried the crash victims from the scene.
The Niagara County Sheriff's Department says one of the skydivers was critically injured and was taken to the Erie County Medical Center
The critically injured passenger is identified as 53 year old Thomas "Toma" Medbury of Akron. He remains in critical condition in ECMC's trauma unit. Medbury is suffering from multiple head, neck and spine injuries.
The pilot is identified as 68-year old Paul Gath of Arcade. He was treated and released from ECMC. Investigators say Gath has more than 30 years of experience as a pilot.
The other passengers were also treated and released from ECMC. Police have identified them as 42 year old Tonya Tiede of Batavia, 38 year old Christian Herboth of North Tonawanda, 46 year old Joseph King of Elma and 35 year old Michael Maly, Jr. of Cheektowaga.
The FAA will investigate.
Some 16 skydivers nationwide were killed in various accidents last year, the fewest since 1961, according to the United States Parachute Association. The organization says early 750 skydivers suffered injuries requiring medical attention last year during nearly 2.5 million jumps.