Armed force sergeant murdered in oddity skydiving mishap

A US Army sergeant was killed in a recreational skydiving accident in North Carolina, police said.

Sgt. 1st Class Justin Goff, 29, died after a solo jump early Sunday at the Cape Fear Regional Jetport, where his parachute deployed but was impacted by high winds, Oak Island Police Department Assistant Chief Chris Franks said.

“He came in too fast and, according to those who were there at the scene, he impacted the ground,” Franks told The Post.

Paramedics tried in vain to save Goff, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is being investigated as an accident, but an autopsy will be conducted to determine his exact cause of death, Franks said.

Investigators do not believe Goff collided with anything during his descent. It was not immediately clear at what altitude Goff jumped, but he was flying in a plane with three other skydivers prior to the fatal accident, Franks said.

Originally from Florida, Goff was stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, WECT reports.

Goff’s death was a “freak accident,” Oak Island police Sgt. Loyd Hames told the station.

The father of three also worked as a coach at Omega Gymnastics in Fayetteville, where one of his children competed, according to a Facebook post by the facility.

“He will be greatly missed by all of our Omega families and friends, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, 3 children and his entire family and loved ones,” the post read. “Coach Justin will be greatly missed by many of our gymnasts and tumblers, and we ask parents to please take the time to discuss this terrible news with your children so they are as prepared as they can be when returning to Omega.”