Two Experienced Skydivers, 29 and 56, Die After Midair Collision Sends Them Plunging to the Ground in California

Two experienced female skydivers have died after a horrifying midair collision caused their parachutes to become tangled during a jump over Southern California. The victims were identified as Georgia Jean, 56, from South Dakota, and Levi Pimentel, 29, from Illinois. Both were taking part in an organized skydiving event at Skydive Elsinore in Lake Elsinore on Friday, November 6.

The tragedy unfolded shortly before noon when a group of approximately 20 licensed skydivers jumped from an aircraft at an altitude of around 12,500 feet. The initial freefall reportedly went smoothly, and both women deployed their parachutes at the expected altitude. However, as they approached the landing area, the two collided approximately 150 feet above the ground.

The impact caused their parachutes to become entangled, leaving them unable to complete their descent safely. Both women fell to the ground and suffered critical injuries. Emergency responders rushed them to a nearby hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. Authorities confirmed that the two victims had traveled from out of town specifically to participate in the organized event.

Georgia Jean was a former comedian and self-described mystic who had developed a passion for skydiving over the years. She reportedly completed around 1,700 jumps after discovering the sport in 2015 and even competed in formation skydiving events. In 2024, she won a bronze medal with her team at the U.S. Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships. An old blog post also resurfaced after her death, recalling how she had once struggled with fear and failed her initial skydiving training several times before overcoming her anxiety.

Levi Pimentel was a respected skydiving instructor at iFLY Naperville in Illinois, where she had worked for approximately eight years. She had completed more than 600 jumps and was known among fellow skydivers for her enthusiasm and experience. She had also participated in record-setting formation skydiving and was preparing for another major women’s skydiving event. The two women reportedly knew each other before the fatal jump.

Skydive Elsinore said there was no indication of mechanical failure or equipment malfunction, and both parachutes had opened as expected. Strong winds were present at the time, but authorities have not established whether weather conditions contributed to the collision. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating and will examine the parachutes as part of its inquiry. The company has expressed its condolences to the families, friends and fellow skydivers affected by the tragedy.

Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40956916/skydivers-die-horror-midair-collision/