http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/jun/09/0609_jumper/Plane jumper called 'quiet' resident of Y
Director: Police found no suicide note in room
Monday, June 9, 2008
By Michael Goot
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At the Duanesburg Skydiving Club, owner Bob Rawlins was still recovering from the shock. “I’m traumatized,” he said.
Rawlins said Carafello had called a couple of times requesting to take a ride in an airplane so he could take pictures at a high altitude for a school project.
Carafello was aboard the plane at about 2 p.m. with a skydiving customer, instructor, and a videographer, who were all preparing to jump. The plane had reached an altitude of about 10,000 feet. The three skydivers then jumped. Rawlins said he then immediately rocked the plane in an effort to shut the door. Then, Carafello unfastened his belt and left his seat and leapt forward before the door could be latched.
“At first, I thought he was lunging to take a picture of the jumpers,” Rawlins said.
Carafello got on his knees and then went out of the plane, according to Rawlins.
The videographer captured Carafello’s jump in his camera’s frame as he was attempting to get another shot of the plane. The video, which has been turned over to state police, shows Carafello taking pictures of himself with a camera while in the air. Rawlins said the videographer told him that Carafello laid still on his back while falling.
Rawlins said he had talked to Carafello’s former landlord who said he was a loner and did not have any friends. He believed he had family in the Troy area.
“My condolences go out to his family,” he said.
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