SPRINGFIELD TWP., Mahoning Co., Ohio - The Mahoning County Coroner says there are conflicting reports about the circumstances surrounding the death of skydiver in Springfield Township.

The coroner reports that an autopsy will be conducted on the body of Robert P. McQuistion, 65, of Saxonburg, PA who was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown where he was taken following a jump at Skydive Rick's skydiving school Sunday afternoon.

According to  school co-owner Kay Kuhns, McQuiston was an experienced skydiver, but was making his first jump with the skydiving school when he incorrectly exited the plane.

Kuhns says when McQuiston's legs became tangled in the lines of his main parachute, the instructor radioed to him to disengage from his main chute and open his emergency parachute.

Kuhns says the jumper landed west of the airfield.

Springfield Township rescue crews were called to the scene and transported the victim to the trauma unit of St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown.

According to a news release from the coroner, there are other reports indicating the possibility that McQuistion experienced a cardiovascular event that left the victim unconscious as his emergency parachute deployed.  

Emergency room records note few injuries apparent on McQuistion.

Kuhns says she and her husband Rick have been skydiving for 46 years, and that they have never had a fatal accident in their 32 years in business.