Nashville, TN - A heartbreaking accident over the weekend has left Murfreesboro grieving the loss of Justin Robert Fuller (also known as Justin Fuller Spidey). This 35-year-old tandem parachute instructor, known for his passion and professionalism, tragically died Saturday (10/4/2025) afternoon during a jump near Ashland City Highway in Nashville.

According to Metro Nashville Police, Fuller and his 46-year-old student were preparing for a tandem skydive when something went terribly wrong. The pair became entangled in the tandem rig on the side of the aircraft. Fuller became separated and fell without a parachute. The student’s emergency chute was deployed, and he floated to the ground and was suspended in a tree roughly 50 feet above the ground in a dense wooded area.

Around 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon, a Metro Police helicopter spotted the bright orange parachute tangled in the trees off the 4500 block of Ashland City Highway. Firefighters worked for hours to reach the man, eventually freeing him using ladders and a pulley system. He was alert and stable, though understandably shaken, and taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution.

Meanwhile, search crews continued looking for Fuller. His body was discovered at 6:45 Saturday evening, nearly a mile from where the student had landed. Authorities believe he fell without any parachute deployment.

For those in Murfreesboro who knew Justin Fuller, the news has hit especially hard. He wasn’t just an instructor—he was a neighbor, a friend, and a man who brought joy and adrenaline to countless lives through his work. His death leaves a void in the local skydiving community and beyond.

Metro Police confirmed that three other skydivers successfully completed their jumps before the tragic accident. The aircraft returned safely to John C. Tune Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration has taken over the investigation to determine what led to the tragic malfunction.

As Murfreesboro reflects on this loss, many are remembering Fuller not just for his skill in the sky, but for the grounded kindness he showed to those around him. His legacy will live on in the lives he touched—and in the skies he loved so deeply.