Skydiver Found Dead on Runway

An autopsy is planned today on the body of a skydiver from Martinez after authorities found the man dead near a Contra Costa County airport runway.

Aircraft from the California Highway Patrol and Byron-based Bay Area Skydiving discovered the body of 55-year-old Robert Whitsitt on Monday near a runway at Byron Airport, about a half-mile from the drop zone.

Whitsitt's family had reported him missing Monday after he failed to return home from a skydiving outing Sunday afternoon.Bay Area Skydiving instructor Gareth Holder said Whitsitt "failed to deploy either one of his parachutes," but it wasn't immediately clear why.

No foul play was suspected.Holder called Whitsitt "an experienced local jumper and parachutist," and said it had been his second jump of the day.--KCRA.COM.

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