TWO EXPERIENCED SKYDIVERS DIE IN HORRIFIC MID-AIR COLLISION — ONE ONCE FEARED SHE WAS A “DEATHWISH TIME BOMB” BEFORE FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT

A dream built on courage, determination and thousands of feet above the ground has ended in unimaginable tᩚraɢedy for two experienced female skydivers.

Georgia Jean, 56, of Box Elder, South Dakota, and Levi Pimentel, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, died on Friday, November 6, following a mid-air collision during a skydiving event near Lake Elsinore, California.

The two women were participating in an organized skydiving gathering at Skydive Elsinore when their parachutes became entangled approximately 150 feet above the ground.

Both were rushed to a nearby hospital with ᑕriᩚtiᩚcal injuries, but neither survived.

As investigators work to establish exactly what happened, details about the women’s remarkable lives and shared passion for skydiving have begun to emerge.

One particularly striking discovery is a decade-old blog post written by Georgia, in which she openly described her early struggles with the sport and admitted fearing she might become a “deathwish time bomb” in the sky.

A FATAL COLLISION JUST MOMENTS BEFORE LANDING

The accident happened shortly before noon on Friday at Skydive Elsinore in Lake Elsinore, Riverside County.

According to the skydiving facility, both women were experienced, licensed skydivers who had traveled from outside the area to participate in an organized event.

The group reportedly jumped from approximately 12,500 feet.

Initially, everything appeared to proceed as expected.

The freefall portion of the jump was uneventful, and both women deployed their parachutes at the expected altitude.

However, as they approached the landing area, the two skydivers collided approximately 150 feet above the ground.

The impact caused their parachutes to become entangled, leaving them unable to complete a normal landing.

Emergency crews responded to the scene after receiving reports of an air emergency at approximately 11:50 a.m.

Firefighters and Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies found both women on the ground with severe traumatic injuries.

They were transported by ambulance to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, where both were pronounced dead.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office subsequently identified the victims as Georgia Jean, 56, and Levi Pimentel, 29.

GEORGIA JEAN ONCE THOUGHT SHE MIGHT NEVER BE ABLE TO SKYDIVE

Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of Georgia’s story comes from something she wrote more than a decade ago.

In an April 2015 blog post titled “1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3….”, Georgia described her difficult introduction to accelerated freefall training.

Her first experiences were far from effortless.

She explained that she had struggled with the early stages of training and had to repeat Level 3 after an unsuccessful attempt.

After a six-month break between jumps, she returned to the training process, only to face further difficulties.

She also recalled being told by an instructor that her brain simply could not handle skydiving.

For someone who had dreamed of mastering the sport, those words could easily have ended the journey.

But Georgia refused to accept that conclusion.

She continued working through her fears, learning to manage her reactions and gradually building the confidence needed to become an experienced skydiver.

In later reflections, she described the fear that her own limitations might make her dangerous in the air.

She used the haunting expression “deathwish time bomb” to explain how deeply she worried about potentially becoming a danger to herself or others.

Yet she continued.

Over the years, Georgia transformed from a struggling student into an accomplished skydiver.

According to her own biography, she eventually completed more than 1,700 jumps after beginning the sport in 2015.

Her journey became an extraordinary example of determination and personal growth.

FROM A STRUGGLING BEGINNER TO A COMPETITIVE SKYDIVER

Georgia was not simply someone who enjoyed jumping out of airplanes.

She became involved in the competitive side of the sport, developing her skills in formation skydiving.

She also described herself as a mystic and former comedian, and founded Circle Evolution, a project connected to her spiritual and personal-development work.

Her social media accounts reflected a life filled with adventure, personal exploration and a determination to pursue experiences that once seemed impossible.

In 2024, she reportedly earned a bronze medal as part of the team First Froth in a mixed formation skydiving competition.

For someone who had once questioned whether she could safely complete even the earliest stages of training, the achievement represented years of dedication.

Her story was not about having no fear.

It was about learning how to move forward despite it.

LEVI PIMENTEL: A 29-YEAR-OLD INSTRUCTOR WHO HELPED OTHERS FLY

While Georgia’s journey was defined by overcoming her early struggles, Levi Pimentel had built a reputation as an experienced instructor and mentor.

At just 29, she worked as the lead instructor at iFLY Naperville, an indoor skydiving facility in Illinois.

She had reportedly been associated with the company for more than eight years.

Her work involved helping others develop their skills, organizing training opportunities and introducing people to the extraordinary feeling of flying.

Indoor skydiving uses powerful vertical wind tunnels to simulate the sensation of freefall without requiring participants to jump from an aircraft.

For Levi, it was more than a job.

It was a passion she shared with others.

Her social media presence reflected an optimistic outlook on life. She encouraged people to pursue their hopes and dreams, even when those dreams appeared unlikely.

Those who knew her through the sport remembered her as someone who dedicated considerable time and energy to helping others improve.

THE TWO WOMEN HAD ALREADY MADE PLANS TO CONNECT AGAIN

Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking details to emerge is that Georgia and Levi were not complete strangers.

They were familiar with each other through their shared involvement in skydiving.

In an August social media post, Georgia expressed interest in attending one of Levi’s skydiving tunnel training camps in 2027.

The exchange reflected a connection built around their shared passion.

Neither could have known that their paths would cross again under such tragic circumstances.

Both women had traveled to Southern California to take part in the organized skydiving event.

According to reporting by the Los Angeles Times, participants were training toward an attempt to establish a new California women’s record for the largest upright formation.

The planned formation involved women maintaining a head-up position while flying together in freefall.

It was an ambitious goal requiring coordination, experience and considerable preparation.

QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT LED TO THE COLLISION

Following the tᩚraɢedy, questions have emerged about what caused the two parachutes to become entangled.

Skydive Elsinore stated that both parachutes deployed normally and that there was no indication of mechanical failure.

The facility also said there were no reported abnormalities during the freefall portion of the jump.

Strong winds were reported in the surrounding area that day, with gusts reaching approximately 20 mph at a nearby weather station.

However, investigators have not established whether wind conditions contributed to the collision.

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

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is also involved in examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.

At this stage, no definitive cause has been announced.

SKYDIVE ELSINORE ISSUES HEARTBREAKING STATEMENT

Following confirmation of the two deaths, Skydive Elsinore released a statement expressing its sorrow.

The company said it was devastated by the loss and extended its deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of both women.

It also confirmed that it was cooperating with the relevant authorities.

For the skydiving community, the tᩚraɢedy has affected people who understand the commitment and preparation involved in the sport.

Both women were licensed and experienced participants who had dedicated years to their passion.

Their deaths have left fellow skydivers mourning two people who shared a love of flying through the air.

TWO LIVES, ONE SHARED PASSION, AND DREAMS THAT WILL REMAIN UNFINISHED

Georgia Jean’s story began with uncertainty.

She once struggled through training, questioned her own abilities and feared she might never become the skydiver she wanted to be.

But she kept going.

She eventually accumulated more than 1,700 jumps and became involved in competitive skydiving.

Levi Pimentel, meanwhile, devoted years to helping others discover the same passion, becoming an instructor who shared her knowledge and enthusiasm with aspiring flyers.

They came from different backgrounds and were at different stages of their lives, but they shared something powerful: a love of the sky and the freedom they found in it.

On November 6, their journeys ended in a tᩚraɢedy that investigators are still working to understand.

Two women who had spent so much time looking toward the sky never made it home.

Their stories are now being remembered not only for the way they ended, but for the determination, friendships and passion that defined their lives.

May Georgia Jean and Levi Pimentel rest in peace. Their courage, dedication and love for the sport will not be forgotten. 🕊️