The Lodi Parachute Center in California continues to function without membership in the United States Parachute Association (USPA), the sport’s primary self-regulatory body, meaning it is not required to follow the group’s established safety guidelines despite a history of over two dozen fatalities since 1985.

Established in the early 1960s and relocated to its current site at Lodi Airport in Acampo in 1981 under owner William “Bill” Dause, the center has long catered to experienced skydivers interested in formation jumps and advanced maneuvers. With rates as low as $100 for tandem experiences—compared to $189 or more at affiliated sites—it draws budget-conscious participants from across the globe, including recent visitors from South Korea, Colombia, and Europe. However, its non-affiliation with the USPA, a voluntary organization founded in the 1930s as the National Parachute Riggers-Jumpers, Inc., has drawn sharp criticism from industry experts who argue that the absence of these standards contributes to preventable risks.

The USPA, headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia, serves as the official U.S. representative for skydiving under the National Aeronautic Association and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Membership, which costs up to $750 annually for drop zones, provides access to training resources, certification programs, and a framework for incident reporting and prevention. Affiliated centers must adhere to the USPA’s Integrated Student Program, which outlines progressive training for beginners, and the Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs), covering everything from equipment inspections to weather minimums. These guidelines have helped reduce the national fatality rate to under one death per 100,000 jumps from 1985 to 2022, according to USPA data aggregated from member reports.

Lodi’s decision to forgo membership—confirmed by USPA Executive Director Ed Scott in 2016 and reiterated in recent investigations—means it operates outside this ecosystem. “The association has no record of the Parachute Center ever being a member,” Scott stated following a 2016 incident that highlighted certification gaps. Without affiliation, the center is not obligated to use USPA-rated instructors, maintain detailed jump logs, or participate in safety audits. This voluntary nature of USPA involvement is a broader industry quirk: while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognizes the group for certifying tandem instructors and parachute riggers, it does not mandate drop zone membership.

Critics, including safety advocates and affected families, point to this as a critical vulnerability. In a 2017 legislative analysis prepared for California lawmakers, the USPA noted that Dause was “well aware” of an instructor’s lack of certification, a detail tied to the revocation of Dause’s individual USPA membership and that of instructor Robert Pooley. Pooley, who ran unauthorized training courses, received a two-year prison sentence in October 2024 for wire fraud after falsifying over 100 instructor certifications. The USPA suspended ties with Lodi in 2016 and recommended halting tandem operations in 2019, advice Dause disregarded.

This backdrop has amplified concerns over the center’s safety record. San Joaquin County Medical Examiner’s reports document 28 fatalities from 1985 to 2021, involving issues like tangled parachutes, midair collisions, and wind-related drifts. Notable cases include the 2016 tandem jump where 18-year-old Tyler Turner and instructor Yong Kwon perished after a deployment failure—Kwon lacked USPA certification. Turner’s family won a $40 million judgment against Dause in 2021, citing him as the “alter ego” of the operating entity, though no funds have been recovered. Another 2019 incident saw jumper Maria Robledo Vallejo, 28, carried by gusts into Highway 99 traffic during landing.

Dause defends the operation, estimating thousands of jumps annually without formal logs—a practice that hinders rate calculations. To align with USPA averages, Lodi would require over 200 daily jumps, a volume experts question given its scale. Former USPA safety director Jim Crouch has remarked that no other comparable facility matches Lodi’s incident count. Reddit communities like r/SkyDiving warn against non-affiliated sites, labeling Lodi an example of where “safety takes a back seat.”

Regulatory gaps exacerbate the issue. The FAA focuses on aircraft and specific certifications, outsourcing much to the USPA, while state and local authorities lack dedicated skydiving oversight. San Joaquin County supervisors have discussed restrictions but taken no action. The 2017 “Tyler’s Law” requires verifying instructor credentials, a direct response to Lodi’s lapses, but enforcement remains spotty.

Affiliated centers tout USPA ties in marketing, emphasizing certified staff and structured programs. Skydive Sacramento, for instance, highlights “100% USPA-rated instructors” with thousands of jumps. Julia Drew of Skydive Truckee Tahoe adds, “Membership proves commitment to safe operations.”

As of October 2025, Lodi operates tandem-free per FAA guidance but remains open, with Dause, 81, fielding calls and scheduling flights. Families like the Turners push for reform, with Francine Turner stating, “Voluntary rules aren’t enough when lives are at stake.” The National Transportation Safety Board has called for better FAA data collection, but progress is slow in a $1 billion industry reliant on self-regulation.

USPA Director of Safety Ron Bell stresses that while human factors drive most incidents, adherence to BSRs minimizes them. Retired parachutist Cory Christiansen advocates rigorous training, regardless of affiliation. Yet, online forums buzz with avoidance advice: “Stick to USPA spots for peace of mind.”

The debate underscores skydiving’s thrill-versus-risk balance. With national fatalities at 10 in 2023 from 3.65 million jumps, outliers like Lodi fuel calls for mandatory standards. As Dause told reporters in 2023, “The sport has risks”—a view that comforts some but alarms others seeking accountability beyond voluntary pacts.

For thrill-seekers eyeing Lodi, the choice looms large: lower costs without USPA safeguards, or affiliated sites with proven protocols? As investigations continue, one fact endures: in skydiving, membership may not be required, but for many, it’s non-negotiable.