Two licensed and experienced skydivers died Friday after colliding in mid-air and becoming entangled roughly 150 feet above the ground near Lake Elsinore, California, according to officials and local reports from Yahoo News and NBC News.
The Skim-Reader Takeaways
- The Incident: The collision occurred shortly before noon near Skydive Elsinore, following what eyewitnesses described as a normal and uneventful freefall.
- The Investigation: Authorities confirmed that both jumpers opened their parachutes at the expected altitude, and officials reported no initial indication of equipment malfunction.
- The Context: The victims were out-of-town participants in the California Women’s Upright Record team event, which aimed to organize a world-record standing-stance dive.
Mid-Air Collision During Record Attempt
The fatal accident took place just over a half-mile from Skydive Elsinore, located about 75 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. According to statements released by Skydive Elsinore, the freefall portion of the jump proceeded normally, and both jumpers deployed their main parachutes at the anticipated altitude. As the two participants prepared to land near the end of their jump, their paths crossed at approximately 150 feet, causing their canopies to become entangled.
The Riverside County Fire Department responded to the scene and found both skydivers suffering from severe traumatic injuries. Emergency personnel transported them to a hospital in critical condition, where they were subsequently pronounced dead. Lt. Deirdre Vickers of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the fatalities by email, noting that the identities of the victims are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.
Skydive Elsinore Spokesperson Addresses Visiting Record Attempt Participants
Skydive Elsinore spokesperson Josh Hall stated that the jumpers were visiting from out of town to participate in the California Women’s Upright Record team. The gathering was organized to establish a new world record for the greatest number of women executing a standing-stance dive. Calendar listings indicated the event was scheduled to run through Sunday. However, event organizers did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.
Hall clarified that while Skydive Elsinore hosted the multi-day gathering, it was not the direct organizer of the record attempt. In an official statement, the skydiving center expressed its condolences, stating that Skydive Elsinore extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of both skydivers, and is grieving alongside all those affected.
| Metric / Fact | Details Provided by Authorities |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Elsinore, California (75 miles SE of Los Angeles) |
| Collision Altitude | Approximately 150 feet above the ground |
| Equipment Status | No indication of mechanical malfunction reported |
| National Safety Context | 16 fatalities recorded out of 3.47 million jumps in 2025 (USPA) |
Parachute Association Reports Sixteen Fatal Skydiving Incidents Last Year
Officials reiterated that there is currently no evidence to suggest a gear failure or equipment malfunction contributed to the tragedy.
Data from the United States Parachute Association puts the incident into broader historical perspective. The organization reported 16 fatal skydiving incidents across the United States last year, noting that the modern fatality rate remains low compared to the sport’s peak risk eras in the 1970s. That figure corresponds to an estimated 3.47 million jumps completed nationally throughout 2025.
