Authorities have identified the pilot who tragically died in a skydiving flight accident near Niagara Falls. Melanie Georger, 26, was the sole occupant of the single-engine Cessna that crashed on Saturday, according to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.
Aspiring commercial pilot’s untimely death
Melanie Georger, hailing from Towanda, New York, was working towards her dream of becoming a commercial pilot. Her father, Paul Georger, shared his grief and pride in a heartfelt statement on Facebook. “My beloved daughter, my best friend and one of the two lights of my life passed away suddenly today,” he wrote. “Melanie was a pilot, on the cusp of realizing her dream to fly for the airlines. She was doing what she loved, flying for a local skydiving company, when her plane crashed.”
The skydiving company and witness reactions
The skydiving company, identified as Skydive the Falls, has declined to comment on the incident. The company offers scenic flights over Niagara Falls before each jump, attracting many thrill-seekers.
One of the skydivers on a flight with Georger right before the one that crashed said he felt blessed to be alive and lamented that her life was cut short.
“For some reason God left me on Earth and I’m just blessed to still be around,” Walker told CBS affiliate WIVB-TV. “It’s just an eerie feeling that I was on that plane literally a half hour before it crashed. Why didn’t it crash with us on it? Why didn’t it crash with more people on it? It’s surreal.”
Walker praised Georger’s professionalism and encouragement before his tandem jump. “I give her props for wanting to do what she was doing,” he said. “I really feel bad for the business and the company she was working for, because they’re a great company. I thought she did a great job training.”
Investigation into the crash
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the aircraft involved was a single-engine Cessna 208B. The crash site was near a road in Youngstown, fewer than 15 miles from Niagara Falls. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Remembering Melanie Georger
Melanie Georger earned her private pilot certificate in July 2021, as noted in a Facebook post by Eagle East Aviation. Her passion for flying and dedication to achieving her dreams were evident to all who knew her. The aviation community and those who had the privilege of flying with her mourn the loss of a talented and driven pilot.