Shocked locals rushed to call the emergency services when they saw him hurtling out of the sky in free-fall.
The parachutist had jumped from a plane at 15,000ft while part of a group training exercise conducted from nearby Camp Roberts, a California national guard base.
He smashed through the roof of a bungalow and landed, dazed but not seriously injured, in the kitchen. Images show him still attached to his harness, surrounded by roof tiles and other wreckage as he lay stunned on the floor.
Neighbour Rose Martin, a registered nurse, ran in to help him. āI was in shock. Iām like, what?āā she told a local TV station. āI checked on him and his eyes were open but I wasnāt sure if there were any injuries. I didnāt want anyone to move him.ā
āItās a miracle in my estimation, really. I mean, who lands like that without a parachute and lives?ā she added.
Fully conscious but in some pain, the soldier was taken to hospital and treated for moderate injuries.
The homeownerās mother, Linda Sallady, said she was amazed that more damage wasnāt done to the house considering he had smashed through the roof. āItās mostly the ceiling, the sheetrock. He missed the counters, appliances, everything.ā
A statement from the Atascadero police department said: āInvestigation revealed that a parachute failed to fully deploy. This was the only incident involved and all others participating in the jump landed safely at the designated landing field.ā
