TRAGIC MID-AIR COLLISION KILLS TWO EXPERIENCED SKYDIVERS, AGED 56 AND 29 — PARACHUTES BECAME ENTANGLED JUST 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND

Two experienced female skydivers have died after a horrifying mid-air collision during an organized skydiving event in Southern California, leaving the skydiving community devastated.

The victims were identified as Georgia Jean, 56, of Box Elder, South Dakota, and Levi Pimentel, 29, of Aurora, Illinois. Both women suffered critical injuries after their parachutes became entangled during their final approach to the landing area at Skydive Elsinore in Lake Elsinore, California.

The accident happened on Friday, November 6, 2026, during a group jump involving approximately 20 licensed and experienced skydivers.

A ROUTINE JUMP TURNED INTO A DEADLY EMERGENCY

According to Skydive Elsinore, the group departed from an aircraft at approximately 12,500 feet.

The initial portion of the jump reportedly proceeded normally. Eyewitnesses said the freefall was uneventful, and both women deployed their parachutes at the expected altitude.

But tragedy struck as the skydivers approached the ground.

At approximately 150 feet above the landing area — around 46 meters — Georgia and Levi collided in mid-air. The impact caused their parachutes to become tangled, leaving both women unable to complete a safe landing.

They struck the ground with critical injuries.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene near the skydiving facility. Both women were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.

NO EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORTED AS INVESTIGATION BEGINS

Skydive Elsinore general manager and co-owner Josh Hall confirmed the deaths in a statement, explaining that both women were experienced, licensed skydivers who had traveled from out of town specifically to participate in the organized event.

The company said there was no indication of mechanical failure or other equipment irregularities. Both parachutes had reportedly opened at the expected altitude.

The Federal Aviation Administration was notified and is expected to collect the parachutes as part of its investigation.

Authorities have not announced a final determination of what caused the collision. Although strong winds were reported in the area that day, it has not been established whether weather conditions played any role.

Hall expressed the company’s condolences to the victims’ families, friends and loved ones, saying the facility was grieving alongside everyone affected by the tragedy.

GEORGIA JEAN: FROM FEARFUL BEGINNER TO AWARD-WINNING SKYDIVER

Georgia Jean’s journey in skydiving was one of persistence and determination.

The 56-year-old reportedly began skydiving in 2015 and went on to complete more than 1,700 jumps.

Her earlier experiences were not always easy. In a blog post written years ago, Georgia recalled struggling through the first level of skydiving training, failing it three times and being told by an instructor that she might not be suited to the sport.

She later described overcoming both those setbacks and her fear that she might be a “deathwish time bomb” — a phrase she used while reflecting on her anxiety about whether she could safely pursue skydiving.

Instead of giving up, she continued training and eventually became involved in competitive skydiving.

In 2024, she won a bronze medal in the intermediate mixed formation skydiving event at the United States Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships as part of the team First Froth.

Her story reflected years of dedication to a sport she had once feared she might never be able to master.

LEVI PIMENTEL WAS A SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR

Levi Pimentel, 29, had also built an impressive connection to the sport.

She worked as a lead instructor at iFLY Indoor Skydiving in Naperville, Illinois, and had completed more than 600 jumps after making her first skydive on her 18th birthday.

She was also part of a team that set a women’s head-down skydiving world record in 2022.

The two women reportedly knew each other before the fatal jump. Georgia had expressed interest in attending one of Levi’s tunnel training camps in 2027.

Their shared passion for skydiving had brought them together in the same community — a community now mourning two of its members.

A COMMUNITY LEFT HEARTBROKEN

The deaths have sent shockwaves through the skydiving world, particularly among those who knew the two women as experienced participants in the sport.

The tragedy is a reminder of the risks involved even when experienced skydivers follow the expected procedures and equipment appears to function normally.

The investigation into the collision remains ongoing. Authorities have not yet released a final explanation of how the two parachutes became entangled.

For now, families, friends and fellow skydivers are left grieving Georgia Jean and Levi Pimentel — two women whose lives were closely connected by their love of the skies.