This has happened about 5 times in 7 hours. I login, only to be met with "You are dead". If I logout and log back in, I spawn on the shore with nothing.
I do not know the pattern, but lag is not believed to be the cause. It will happen even if I run to a secluded area in a forest or in an empty room in an apartment complex on the top floor. It has happened on servers with fewer than 5 people, making the likelihood of death by player extremely low.
I only play on servers where my ping is very low. Usually below 40.
I KNOW I did not die upon logOUT, because my character on the main menu will be all decked out. It's only upon logIN where I receive the "you are dead" message. If I logout then, then my main menu character preview will have nothing but the starter clothes.