Jim, 52, died August 3, 1986, when he failed to open his parachute after a freefall jump from 7,200 feet. Investigators were unable to determine why and experienced jump master with several thousand jumps did not open his chute.

Jim was a teacher at Awbrey Park Elementary School in Eugene, Oregon, and a parachute instructor for a skydiving club near Brownsville, Oregon. He was jumping with his son, David, and two other men and were preforming coordinated movements before opening their parachutes. Jim's son, James, was the pilot of the Cessna 206 from which the group jumped. Jim jumped at CJ 1953-55.