Two Skydivers Killed in Midair Collision Over Southern California, Authorities Say

A record-setting training jump turns fatal over Lake Elsinore

November 6, 2026 · 11:30 p.m. Pacific / November 7, 2026 · 2:30 a.m. Eastern

Two experienced female parachutists died Friday after colliding in midair during a complex group training jump over Riverside County, California, authorities and fellow skydivers confirmed.

The tragedy occurred shortly before noon near the 20700 block of Cereal Street, adjacent to the Skylark Field Airport and the renowned Skydive Elsinore dropzone at the southern edge of Lake Elsinore. According to the Riverside County Fire Department (CAL FIRE RRU) and witnesses, emergency dispatchers received multiple 911 calls at approximately 11:50 a.m. reporting two skydivers down with catastrophic, life-threatening trauma.

Witnesses and jump organizers stated that the victims were part of a dedicated 19-member team of highly experienced parachutists practicing to establish a new California state record for the largest female upright—or head-up sitting—formation. The initial high-altitude exit and freefall phase reportedly executed according to flight plans. However, shortly after canopy deployment, two of the parachutes drifted into close proximity and collided, becoming entangled and sending both skydivers into an unrecoverable descent.

Emergency response and federal inquiry underway

CAL FIRE/Riverside County firefighters, paramedics and deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office responded immediately to Cereal Street. First responders performed emergency resuscitation measures on scene before transporting both women by ground ambulance to Inland Valley Medical Center in nearby Wildomar, California.

Hospital physicians pronounced both jumpers dead shortly after arrival. Authorities withheld their names Friday evening pending positive identification by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office and formal notification of next of kin.

Operations at Skydive Elsinore were immediately shut down for the remainder of Friday as investigators surveyed the dropzone and recovered flight equipment. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it has opened an inquiry alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and local law enforcement. Federal inspectors will examine the parachute gear, deployment logs, emergency cutaway systems, and aircraft flight manifests to determine whether equipment failure or atmospheric turbulence contributed to the collision.