Here is my original post to CNN iReport Clicking on the image of the phone above will take you to another CNN story about the phone.

 

On July 8th, my wife decided to do a tandem at Westside Skydivers in Winsted Minnesota with owner and instructor, Jumpin' Joe Johnson. My plan was to document it with my iPhone and a GoPro camera. The battery on my GoPro died before we left the plane, and the photo of my wife is the last my iPhone would take, ever?

As we were getting ready to exit, I took off my camera helmet and left it in the plane since the camera was useless, and stuffed my phone into my pocket which had a zipper, and Velcro. In my haste, I did not zip the pocket, thinking the Velcro would be sufficient, and exited the aircraft.

After a couple of free-fall kisses, I waved goodbye to the wife, and deployed my parachute, and flew safely to the landing area. Once there, i reached for my phone only to find it was no longer in my pocket.

Hoping the phone may have had a soft landing, I ran to my truck and fired up the "find my iPhone" app on my iPad.

As unbelievable as it sounds, my phone had fallen 13,500 ft., and was still sending out a signal. According to my iPad, it was less than 1/4 mile away, and laying on top of a factory roof.

We loaded up and drove down, only to interrupt a post 4th of July company picnic. After telling them why I was there, they offered to lift me to the roof to look for it.

I didn't think there was anyway that the app could be that accurate, but low and behold, it was right where my iPad said it was, and it was still working!!! 13,500ft, 120mhp, to a steel roof, and still alive!! On my forklift ride back to the ground, it started to vibrate in my hand, my wife and Jumpin' Joe were calling me from down below, laughing hysterically!

Once back in my Ford F150 Raptor, it synced up to my truck, and I was able to use to make call as well!

Update: Kare11 has now picked up the story!