Two licensed and highly experienced skydivers died after their parachutes became entangled during a mid-air collision just moments before landing in Southern California. The victims have been identified as Georgia Jean, 56, of Box Elder, South Dakota, and Levi Pimentel, 29, of Aurora, Illinois.

The tragedy occurred on Friday, November 6, 2026, around midday at Skydive Elsinore in Lake Elsinore. Both women were participating in an organized jump with a group of approximately 20 experienced skydivers. They exited the aircraft at about 12,500 feet. According to the skydiving company, the freefall portion of the jump and the opening of both parachutes proceeded normally.

Trouble arose during the final stages of the descent. Witnesses and company officials reported that the two skydivers collided at roughly 150 feet above the ground while preparing to land. The impact caused their parachutes to become tangled, and both sustained critical injuries upon hitting the ground. Emergency responders transported them to a local hospital, where they were later pronounced ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

Skydive Elsinore stated that there were no mechanical failures or reported irregularities with the equipment. Powerful winds were present at the time of the jump. The company, one of the longest-running skydiving operations in North America, expressed deep condolences to the families and loved ones of both women. The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation into the incident.

Georgia Jean had taken up skydiving in 2015 and completed more than 1,700 jumps. She described herself as a mystic and former comedian and had competed successfully, earning a bronze medal in mixed formation skydiving with her team in 2024. More than a decade earlier, she had written a blog post reflecting on early struggles with the sport. After failing the first level of training three times and being told by an instructor that she might not be suited for skydiving, she described overcoming the fear that she could be a “deathwish time bomb.” She ultimately mastered the activity.

Levi Pimentel worked as a lead instructor at iFLY Naperville, an indoor skydiving facility in Illinois, where she had been employed for about eight years. She described herself as an optimist and a dreamer of ambitious goals. The two women knew each other prior to the jump; Georgia had previously expressed interest in attending one of Levi’s tunnel training camps.

Both skydivers had traveled from out of state specifically to take part in the event. The sudden loss of two experienced members of the skydiving community has left friends, colleagues, and family members grieving.