Midair Collision Claims Lives of Two Experienced Skydivers
Two skydivers, 29-year-old Levi Pimentel of Aurora, Illinois, and 56-year-old Georgia Jean of Box Elder, South Dakota, died on November 6 following a midair collision in Lake Elsinore.
The women were participating in an organized training event, practicing for an attempt to set a California record for the largest women’s formation in an upright orientation.
The accident occurred as the participants were nearing the ground. While the free-fall portion of the jump and the subsequent deployment of parachutes appeared to proceed without issue, the two skydivers collided approximately 150 feet above the landing zone, causing their parachutes to become entangled, as noted in a statement from Skydive Elsinore.
Both women sustained critical injuries upon impact with the ground and were later pronounced dead at Inland Valley Medical Center.
A Specialized Training Mission
The training event brought together experienced, licensed skydivers. Chazi Rutz, a professional skydiver from Arizona who took part in the jump, described the initial moments of the maneuver to the Los Angeles Times. The group exited the aircraft holding hands and completed the first phase of the formation as planned. Rutz stated that the collision occurred after the participants had deployed their parachutes and were descending toward the landing area.
Georgia Jean, a former stand-up comedian and business owner, had been skydiving since 2015 and had completed approximately 1,700 jumps. Her experience included competitive success, having earned a bronze medal at the 2024 United States Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships.
Levi Pimentel worked as a lead skydiving instructor at an iFLY Indoor Skydiving facility in Illinois. She had completed more than 600 jumps and previously participated in a 2022 women’s head-down skydiving world record, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Deputies Respond to Air Emergency on Cereal Street
Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the 20000 block of Cereal Street at approximately 11:47 a.m. following reports of an air emergency. While an air ambulance was initially requested to transport the victims, emergency personnel ultimately opted for ground transport due to the helicopter’s estimated arrival time. The Riverside County Coroner’s Office reported that Jean was pronounced dead at 12:26 p.m., with Pimentel following three minutes later.
Skydive Elsinore has stated there is no evidence of equipment malfunction, noting that the free-fall and deployment phases were standard. The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified and is expected to collect the parachutes for examination as part of the investigation. Authorities have not yet reached a final determination regarding the specific factors that led to the midair contact.
Investigators continue to analyze the incident.
