Two Licensed Skydivers Die After Midair Collision at California Dropzone
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Two licensed skydivers died Friday after colliding in the air shortly before landing at Skydive Elsinore in Southern California, according to CBS News and Fox News. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating, Fox News reported.
The company said the two women were experienced jumpers who were visiting from out of town for an organized skydiving event. It said there was no evidence of equipment malfunction.
What happened at Skydive Elsinore
Skydive Elsinore said in a statement that the free-fall portion of the dive and the opening of both parachutes were normal. As the pair prepared to land, they collided at about 150 feet above the ground. The company said the collision tangled their parachutes, and both skydivers suffered critical injuries when they reached the ground.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Department said deputies were dispatched late Friday morning after reports of an air emergency. Fox News placed the collision at around noon in Lake Elsinore, about 75 miles southeast of Los Angeles. The skydivers were taken to a local hospital and were pronounced dead there, the sheriff said. The Riverside County Fire Department said on social media that the two had suffered traumatic injuries and were taken by ambulance.
Who the victims were
The Riverside County coroner's office identified the victims as Levi Pimentel, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, and Georgia Jean, 56, of Box Elder, South Dakota, CBS News reported.
Fox News reported that Pimentel was a lead skydiving instructor at iFLY Naperville in Illinois, according to her LinkedIn profile. Jean had made more than 1,700 jumps, according to her website, Fox News said.
Why it matters
The accident involved two licensed, experienced skydivers, and the company said the dive went normally until the final moments before landing. According to Skydive Elsinore, equipment failure was not a factor. That leaves the collision itself, which happened at a low altitude, as the focus of the inquiry. The sources do not report any findings on its cause.
For people who skydive or are considering it, the case shows that the company is pointing to a midair collision rather than a gear problem. The FAA investigation is the formal review of the accident, and no results have been released.
Skydive Elsinore describes itself as the longest-running skydiving operation in North America. CBS News reported that it is located about an hour from both the San Diego and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.
What happens next
The FAA is investigating, according to Fox News. Officials have not disclosed a timeline for the review or said what it will examine.
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