Two experienced skydivers were killed after their parachutes became tangled during a midair collision just moments before landing in Southern California. The accident happened Friday morning at Skydive Elsinore near Lake Elsinore, leaving both women with fatal injuries after they fell to the ground. Authorities later identified them as 29-year-old Levi Pimentel of Aurora, Illinois, and 56-year-old Georgia Jean of Box Elder, South Dakota.
The collision happened around 11:47 a.m. while the women were descending toward the landing area. They were part of an organized skydiving event involving experienced jumpers. According to information released by Skydive Elsinore, the two collided approximately 150 feet above the ground. Their parachutes became entangled, and both fell before they could reach the landing area safely.
The group reportedly exited an aircraft at approximately 12,500 feet. The initial part of the jump went as expected, with witnesses reporting a normal freefall and both parachutes opening at the expected altitude. The trouble began during the final stage of the descent, when the two women collided. What caused them to cross paths remains under investigation.
Firefighters and Riverside County sheriff’s deputies responded after reports of an air emergency. The women were found with serious injuries and received medical attention before being taken by ambulance to Inland Valley Medical Center. Both were later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Investigators have not reported evidence of equipment failure. Skydive Elsinore said both women were experienced and licensed skydivers, and the company reported that their equipment had functioned normally before the collision. The Federal Aviation Administration was notified and will collect the parachutes as part of the investigation.
Jean had been involved in skydiving since 2015 and reportedly completed more than 1,700 jumps. She was from Box Elder, South Dakota, and had traveled to California for the event. Her experience included years of participation in a sport that requires training, careful coordination and attention during every stage of a jump.
Pimentel, meanwhile, had spent nearly nine years working at iFLY Naperville in Illinois. She held several roles at the indoor skydiving facility, including lead trainer, lead instructor and flight instructor. Although indoor skydiving uses powerful air tunnels rather than aircraft and parachutes, her professional background kept her closely connected to the sport.
The deaths have raised questions about how two experienced parachutists came into contact so close to the ground. Strong winds were reported in the area, with gusts reaching approximately 20 mph, but investigators have not established whether the weather contributed to the collision. No official cause has been announced.
Skydive Elsinore said it was deeply saddened by the deaths and extended condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of both women. The company also confirmed that it was cooperating with authorities as they examine the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The U.S. Parachute Association recorded approximately 3.47 million skydives among its members in 2025, with 16 fatalities that year. While the sport sees millions of jumps, Friday’s accident shows how quickly a routine landing approach can turn deadly when parachutes become entangled.
The accident happened at Skydive Elsinore near Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California, approximately 70 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The investigation remains important in establishing what caused the fatal collision and whether any contributing factors can be identified.
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