‘Mini tornado’ caused skydiver death, according to expert

CALVERTON, N.Y. — A safety expert for a national skydiving association says a “mini tornado” caused the accident that killed a correction officer and injured his instructor during a tandem jump.

Gary Messina died in the accident Wednesday afternoon at Skydive Long Island in Calverton. His instructor, Christopher Scott, was critically injured.

Rich Winstock tells Newsday (http://nwsdy.li/1zzHqPX ) wind and dust churned into a funnel and made it impossible to control the parachute. Winstock is director of the United States Parachute Association and chairs its safety and training committee.

The FAA is investigating. It had no information Thursday about the accident’s cause.

The National Weather Service said winds were in the 5- to 15-mph range at the time of the jump.

Messina would have turned 26 on Thursday.

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Information from: Newsday, http://www.newsday.com