Devrey LaRiccia Chase, a 28-year-old skydiving instructor, and her student tragically lost their lives in a routine skydive in Perris, California, approximately 71 miles east of Los Angeles, on August 2, 2024. The accident occurred when Chase and her student, identified as Kayla Black, 28, harnessed to Chase in a tandem jump, encountered dust devils— small, intense whirlwinds of dust and debris—while descending.
Chase, an experienced instructor with Skydive Perris, was on her final jump of the day with Black. According to her husband, Freddy Chase, Devrey successfully navigated around the first dust devil but was caught by a second one at approximately 25 feet above the ground. This sent her parachute into an uncontrollable spin, leading to a hard landing. Despite being rushed to a hospital, Chase died from her injuries. Black survived but sustained severe injuries and died two days later in the hospital.
Freddy Chase, also involved in skydiving, expressed his sorrow and reminisced about his wife, highlighting her inner and outer beauty and enthusiasm for skydiving. He mentioned that she passed away while engaging in the activity she loved most.
Like small tornadoes but less intense, dust devils form in hot, clear conditions and can reach significant heights. While generally not dangerous to people on the ground, they can pose significant risks to skydivers. Witnesses reported that all aspects of the jump were normal until the final moments when the dust devil disrupted the landing sequence, causing turbulence and the subsequent hard landing.
Devrey Chase moved from Maine to California eight years ago to pursue her passion for skydiving. Her family has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to bring her body back to Maine for burial and to support her favorite charities. The fundraiser generated over $59,000, reflecting the respect people had for her.
Freddy conveyed his deep sadness for the accident and its effect on the student’s family. He noted that Devrey’s passion for skydiving was central to their relationship, and he admired her joyful spirit and commitment to the sport. He mentioned that she also enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends and family, always doing so with enthusiasm and without complaints.
