Two skydivers killed after parachute tangle at California drop zone

Two licensed skydivers died this weekend after their parachutes became entangled during a routine jump at a California facility. The incident occurred at Skydive Elsinore in Lake Elsinore, a drop zone located in Southern California that serves a wide range of recreational and professional jumpers.

The collision happened around noon on Friday. According to the company, the free fall and parachute deployment proceeded as expected. The accident took place while the pair were preparing to land, at an altitude of approximately 150 feet above the ground. Their canopies tangled, causing both women to sustain critical injuries upon impact with the ground. They were transported to a hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Authorities on Saturday identified the victims as Levi Pimentel, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, and Georgia Jean, 56, of Box Elder, South Dakota. Both held valid skydiving licenses. Pimentel worked as a lead instructor at iFLY Naperville, an indoor skydiving center in the Chicago suburbs. Her employer did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified of the death. The agency plans to collect the parachutes involved and conduct a formal investigation into the cause of the collision. This process typically involves a detailed review of equipment condition, pilot actions, and atmospheric conditions at the time of the jump.

Skydiving accidents involving entangled parachutes are rare but often result in fatal outcomes due to the limited time available for correction at low altitudes. The FAA investigation will determine whether mechanical failure, human error, or a combination of factors contributed to the tangle at 150 feet.