Air Force Sergeant Killed in 170-Foot Rappelling Fall Selected for Stunt for First Time

An Air Force sergeant who died after falling 170 feet during a rappelling demonstration before a college football game had been selected to perform the dangerous stunt for the first time, his father said.

Tech Sgt. Ian Patterson, 33, died Saturday after he fell from the rafters of the Alamodome in San Antonio prior to the University of Texas at San Antonio vs. Navy game. Patterson, a member of the 6th Combat Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio, was rappelling down to the field when he appeared to lose control.

"I was very excited. I believe he wanted to do it last year as well," Patterson's father, John Patterson, told WDRB+WAVE. "He didn’t do it last year. So this year he had the opportunity."

Patterson, a 15-year veteran of the Air Force, was remembered by his father as a "wonderful husband and dad" who loved his military career. He had previously served in South Korea, Germany, and Colorado.

"He knew that the military would give him a solid career and a solid base, and give him discipline and integrity and everything that wraps up a good military individual," John Patterson said.

Medical personnel attended to Patterson on the field for approximately 10 minutes before he was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The stunt, described as one of the most dangerous, involved Patterson and three other military personnel descending from the stadium's ceiling.

Patterson was a Tactical Air Control Party instructor and had received multiple accolades during his service, including being named the 2022 Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year. The TACP Foundation has organized a fundraiser for his family, stating that his loss is deeply felt within the community.