Air Force Unit Stops All Rope Training After TACP’s Rappelling Death  

The Air Force unit tasked with training Tactical Air Control Party Airmen has halted all rope training events after one of its instructors was killed Oct. 17 in a rappelling demonstration in front of thousands of spectators at a college football game.

Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson of the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2 at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, died Oct. 17 from injuries he suffered from rappelling rapidly from the 180-foot ceiling of Alamodome, failing to stop before his body crashed into the field below. Patterson was participating in a pregame event before the University of Texas-San Antonio played Navy as part of its Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans night.

It’s unclear when the service will complete the investigation into the cause of Patterson’s fatal accident, a spokesperson at the Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., said.

Detachment 2 of the 6th CTS teaches rappelling and other skills TACPs need to embed and operate with Army and Marine units while coordinating and deconflicting all surface and air fires on the battlefield. But less than a week after Patterson’s death, the unit “paused all rappel and ropes training and demonstrations,” according to the spokesperson, who added that it’s unclear how long the pause will stay in place.

Other media outlets previously reported the unit’s pause in training.

Military units specializing in rappelling have frequently put on demonstrations at the Alamodome. In 2013, instructors from the Army’s 101st Airborne Division Air Assault School from Fort Campbell, Ky., conducted a pregame rappelling demonstration inside the stadium before the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game.

But the Alamodome’s ceiling is much higher than most service members are used to, measuring more than double the height of most military rappel towers.

Rappelling from such heights can cause increased friction to build up, radiating intense heat even through rappelling gloves. While practicing for the 2013 event, 101st instructors “complained about their hands feeling pretty warm, despite wearing gloves,” according to an Army release from the time. After their first practice rappel, the Soldiers added special inserts into their gloves to protect their hands from the heat buildup.

It’s unclear if Patterson had practiced rappelling from the stadium’s ceiling before the event. But the native of Fort Stewart, Ga., received recognition for his skill during his 15 years of service, including being named as the Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year at the Headquarters Air Force level, according to an Oct. 18 press release.