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Social Media Manager: Samantha McCarthy
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35-year-old skydiving instructor Justin Fuller was killed in a skydiving accident in Nashville, Tennessee, right off of Ashland City Highway. The incident is still being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration, but police say that Fuller is “presumed to have fallen from the sky without a parachute.”
Fuller’s body was found hours after the incident in a clearing of a wooded area. His 46-year-old student was left stranded in a tree until rescuers came. The student survived the fall with an emergency parachute.
It is reported that three jumps had been made earlier in the day, and all three were successful. The plane that the two jumped from also landed safely.
Local resident Ron Ulus recalled the event and how he was able to assist rescuers: “I just saw all the trucks down here. It’s a friend of a friend’s property. I thought something was wrong with his property,” Ulus told WSMV4, a local news station.
Ulus insisted on helping the rescue team using his own climbing gear.
“I’m used to being up high; it was just another day for me,” he told WSMV4. “I’m just glad he got down safe. He said it was his first jump, and it was going to be his last.”
The student was taken to a local hospital as a precaution, but he is expected to be fully healthy and uninjured.
It is still unclear exactly how Fuller became separated from the tandem rig, and authorities are working on figuring out a clear play-by-play of the situation.
Go Skydive Nashville, the company which Fuller worked for, released a statement following the tragic incident:
“Go Skydive Nashville reports that a skydiving incident occurred on Saturday, October 4, 2025, resulting in the tragic loss of one life.
Details of the incident are still being determined, and Go Skydive Nashville is cooperating fully with local authorities as they conduct their investigation. The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Go Skydive Nashville remains dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of training, safety, and professionalism. At this time, the team is focused on supporting those affected by this tragedy.
No further statements will be made pending additional information. More information about skydiving safety statistics can be found at www.uspa.org/discover/faqs/safety.”
Luke Goodgion, a close friend of Fuller, expressed his grief, saying, “I wish I could call him and talk to him. It has been difficult.”
It was later discovered by local news outlets that Fuller had survived a plane crash this past June. Before working for Go Skydive Nashville, he was an instructor for Skydive Tennessee.
After boarding a plane with 19 others planning to jump that day, the plane “experienced an unknown issue that resulted in an impact on trees and terrain,” explained City Administrator Jason Quick.
After this plane crash in June, Fuller took to social media, writing
I’ve had a ton of y’all reach out and ask if this changes my plan for my lifestyle moving forward. The answer to that is a resounding hell no. I love this sport, I love the lifestyle it has given me, and I love the people way too much to leave this behind. I’ve always known there’s a chance something like this could happen and could happen again. All we can do is strive to make this sport as safe as possible and keep learning from events such as these. I will continue to be a catalyst for safety and make sure me and those around get to enjoy this amazingly unique sport for a very long time.
Go Skydive Nashville has not put out any further statements due to the incident still being under investigation.