Experienced skydiver found dead after jump, authorities say

BARRE, N.Y. -- The main parachute being used by an experienced skydiver wasn’t attached to him when his body was found in a New York field, authorities say.

The Orleans County sheriff’s office says 30-year-old Erick Miller went skydiving with another person Saturday evening and jumped from a plane as it flew over the town of Barre, 30 miles west of Rochester.

When the other person landed, Miller couldn’t be found. His body was later found in an open field.

Officials say Miller’s main parachute was found nearby, but it wasn’t attached to him. Authorities say it’s unclear why his backup parachute didn’t deploy automatically.

The investigation into the death is continuing.

The Western New York Skydiving Club says Miller, from the Rochester suburb of Irondequoit, was an experienced instructor with more than 700 civilian jumps, according to CBS affiliate WIVB.

Meanwhile, the United States Parachute Association says “the sport of skydiving continues to improve its safety record” in a recent report.