The DelegateExecution.getBpmnModelElementInstance() throws a ClassCastException if it has originated from an intermediate throwing event. I have attached a test case which demonstrates the behaviour.

This is more of a problem if you have an application level ExecutionListener that doesn't know where the executions originate from.

public void execute(DelegateExecution execution) throws Exception {
execution.getBpmnModelElementInstance();
}

org.camunda.bpm.engine.ProcessEngineException: Cannot cast org.camunda.bpm.model.xml.impl.instance.ModelElementInstanceImpl@26917287 to FlowElement. Is of type intermediateThrowEvent Namespace http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.getBpmnModelElementInstance(ExecutionEntity.java:1279)
at au.com.auspost.GetFlowElementTest$1.execute(GetFlowElementTest.java:30)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.delegate.JavaDelegateInvocation.invoke(JavaDelegateInvocation.java:34)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.delegate.DelegateInvocation.proceed(DelegateInvocation.java:39)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.delegate.DefaultDelegateInterceptor.handleInvocation(DefaultDelegateInterceptor.java:43)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.bpmn.listener.DelegateExpressionExecutionListener.notify(DelegateExpressionExecutionListener.java:53)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.bpmn.listener.DelegateExpressionExecutionListener.notify(DelegateExpressionExecutionListener.java:32)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.core.instance.CoreExecution.invokeListener(CoreExecution.java:96)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.core.operation.AbstractEventAtomicOperation.execute(AbstractEventAtomicOperation.java:51)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:380)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.core.operation.AbstractEventAtomicOperation.execute(AbstractEventAtomicOperation.java:58)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:391)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:371)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationTransitionCreateScope.execute(PvmAtomicOperationTransitionCreateScope.java:55)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationTransitionCreateScope.execute(PvmAtomicOperationTransitionCreateScope.java:24)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:391)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:371)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationTransitionNotifyListenerTake.execute(PvmAtomicOperationTransitionNotifyListenerTake.java:76)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationTransitionNotifyListenerTake.execute(PvmAtomicOperationTransitionNotifyListenerTake.java:31)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:391)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:371)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationTransitionDestroyScope.execute(PvmAtomicOperationTransitionDestroyScope.java:118)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationTransitionDestroyScope.execute(PvmAtomicOperationTransitionDestroyScope.java:27)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:391)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:371)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationTransitionNotifyListenerEnd.eventNotificationsCompleted(PvmAtomicOperationTransitionNotifyListenerEnd.java:36)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationTransitionNotifyListenerEnd.eventNotificationsCompleted(PvmAtomicOperationTransitionNotifyListenerEnd.java:23)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.core.operation.AbstractEventAtomicOperation.execute(AbstractEventAtomicOperation.java:65)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:380)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.core.operation.AbstractEventAtomicOperation.execute(AbstractEventAtomicOperation.java:58)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:391)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:371)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.PvmExecutionImpl.take(PvmExecutionImpl.java:272)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.bpmn.behavior.BpmnActivityBehavior.performOutgoingBehavior(BpmnActivityBehavior.java:101)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.bpmn.behavior.BpmnActivityBehavior.performDefaultOutgoingBehavior(BpmnActivityBehavior.java:50)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.bpmn.behavior.FlowNodeActivityBehavior.leave(FlowNodeActivityBehavior.java:44)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.bpmn.behavior.FlowNodeActivityBehavior.execute(FlowNodeActivityBehavior.java:36)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationActivityExecute.execute(PvmAtomicOperationActivityExecute.java:44)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationActivityExecute.execute(PvmAtomicOperationActivityExecute.java:25)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:391)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:371)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationProcessStartInitial.eventNotificationsCompleted(PvmAtomicOperationProcessStartInitial.java:53)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationProcessStartInitial.eventNotificationsCompleted(PvmAtomicOperationProcessStartInitial.java:30)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.core.operation.AbstractEventAtomicOperation.execute(AbstractEventAtomicOperation.java:65)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:380)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.core.operation.AbstractEventAtomicOperation.execute(AbstractEventAtomicOperation.java:58)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:391)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:371)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationProcessStart.eventNotificationsCompleted(PvmAtomicOperationProcessStart.java:51)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.operation.PvmAtomicOperationProcessStart.eventNotificationsCompleted(PvmAtomicOperationProcessStart.java:30)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.core.operation.AbstractEventAtomicOperation.execute(AbstractEventAtomicOperation.java:65)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContext.performOperation(CommandContext.java:91)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperationSync(ExecutionEntity.java:401)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:391)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.performOperation(ExecutionEntity.java:371)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.PvmExecutionImpl.start(PvmExecutionImpl.java:138)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.pvm.runtime.PvmExecutionImpl.start(PvmExecutionImpl.java:121)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.cmd.StartProcessInstanceCmd.execute(StartProcessInstanceCmd.java:70)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.cmd.StartProcessInstanceCmd.execute(StartProcessInstanceCmd.java:32)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandExecutorImpl.execute(CommandExecutorImpl.java:24)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContextInterceptor.execute(CommandContextInterceptor.java:90)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.interceptor.LogInterceptor.execute(LogInterceptor.java:32)
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.RuntimeServiceImpl.startProcessInstanceByKey(RuntimeServiceImpl.java:71)
at au.com.auspost.GetFlowElementTest.testProcess(GetFlowElementTest.java:43)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:57)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:606)
at org.junit.runners.model.FrameworkMethod$1.runReflectiveCall(FrameworkMethod.java:47)
at org.junit.internal.runners.model.ReflectiveCallable.run(ReflectiveCallable.java:12)
at org.junit.runners.model.FrameworkMethod.invokeExplosively(FrameworkMethod.java:44)
at org.junit.internal.runners.statements.InvokeMethod.evaluate(InvokeMethod.java:17)
at org.junit.internal.runners.statements.RunBefores.evaluate(RunBefores.java:26)
at org.junit.rules.TestWatchman$1.evaluate(TestWatchman.java:53)
at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.runLeaf(ParentRunner.java:271)
at org.junit.runners.BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.runChild(BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.java:70)
at org.junit.runners.BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.runChild(BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.java:50)
at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner$3.run(ParentRunner.java:238)
at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner$1.schedule(ParentRunner.java:63)
at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.runChildren(ParentRunner.java:236)
at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.access$000(ParentRunner.java:53)
at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner$2.evaluate(ParentRunner.java:229)
at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.run(ParentRunner.java:309)
at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit4.runner.JUnit4TestReference.run(JUnit4TestReference.java:50)
at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.TestExecution.run(TestExecution.java:38)
at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.runTests(RemoteTestRunner.java:467)
at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.runTests(RemoteTestRunner.java:683)
at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.run(RemoteTestRunner.java:390)
at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.main(RemoteTestRunner.java:197)
Caused by: java.lang.ClassCastException: org.camunda.bpm.model.xml.impl.instance.ModelElementInstanceImpl cannot be cast to org.camunda.bpm.model.bpmn.instance.FlowElement
at org.camunda.bpm.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.getBpmnModelElementInstance(ExecutionEntity.java:1275)
... 108 more