Emery County Sheriff’s Office Press Release
Sid and Charley – San Rafael Swell – Emery County – October 5, 2019
Shortly before noon on Saturday, October 5, 2019, ECSO Dispatch Center received a call of a fatal powered parachute accident at the Sid and Charley pinnacles in the San Rafael Swell. The victim has been identified as 68-year-old Rodney Pridmore from Idaho.
A group of five men had flown from the Huntington Airport that morning and had landed at Sid and Charley. When the group was ready to leave, Pridmore was one of the first in the air. He radioed to his party that he was having problems with his aircraft and they advised him to try to land. The landing was unsuccessful with the aircraft impacting a shallow wash. A member of the party who is an emergency room physician stated that Pridmore died on impact.
Initial investigation by those on scene suggests a problem with the rope and pulley steering system. The FAA was contacted and will be investigating.
