OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA – A 23-year-old Marine was killed in a parachuting accident at Camp Pendleton last Thursday. The Marines have confirmed that Cpl. Ryan L. Pape of East Grand Forks, Minn., died while taking part in a “low-level static line parachute training jump”. “Static line” refers to the type of jump where the jumper is connected to a line in the aircraft that deploys the parachute when the jumper exits the aircraft. For unknown reasons, Pape sustained serious injuries in the nighttime training exercise and later died from those injuries. He was jumping with five other Marines from a C-130 aircraft. Non one else was injured in the low altitude jump. It is not yet known whether Pape’s parachute failed to deploy or whether there was another type of complication.
Pape was from Minnesota and had enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2005. His personal service awards included the Navy and Marine Corps Acheivement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal. Pape had served two tours of duty in Iraq and had reenlisted in October because he wanted to accomplish more in the Marine Corps. Pape’s brother, Riley, was also a Marine and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in 2005. He was killed in a motorcycle accident in National City in May of that year. Ryan Pape enlisted in the Marine Corps five months after his brother’s death.
The specifics of this accident have not yet been released. However, the incident prompted the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion’s parachute activities to be temporarily suspended for a safety investigation. Results of the investigation will not be publicly available until there has been a thorough investigation and full report.
Our hearts go out to the Pape family. Losing two sons in a matter of years causes imaginable grief and we hope the Pape family can eventually find some comfort in the fact their sons accomplished a great deal for the country while living. The unexpected loss of a loved one is always extremely difficult for the surviving family members.
In this case, if Pape’s death was the result of faulty parachute equipment or the negligence of a third party, his family may be able to recover economic damages for their loss. The wrongful death lawyers at Berman & Riedel, LLP understand that no amount of money can make up for your loss. However, we also know that some measure of recovery can help alleviate at least the financial burden associated with a tragic loss. Contact the firm through our main website at www.bermanlawyers.com or by phone at 858 350 8855 to set up a consultation to discuss your legal rights.
