Two Perish While Turning Base For Fullerton Airport

An early Sunday morning flight to Fullerton Airport in Southern California went horribly awry when a single engine Cessna, identified in some media reports as a Cessna 182, hit the KFI radio tower, killing both aboard and bringing the tower down. Initial info is sketchy but officials indicate that a male and female were on board the Cessna when the red and white tower was struck. The impact reportedly took place at 0949 local time.

The radio station's operation were interrupted for over an hour before service was restored, though the tower was taken down by the impact. According to local airport officials, the aircraft was enroute to Fullerton from El Monte.

The pilot reportedly called in on the base leg of his apporach and was about a mile away from the airport when the accident occured with the tower... which stands over 760 above the ground and some 820 feet above sea level (which really makes one wonder who approves the positioning of such a large tower so close to an active airport in a high traffic area).

**   Report created 12/20/2004   Record 20     **
IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 9187G Make/Model: C182 Description: 182, Skylane
 Date: 12/19/2004 Time: 1745
 Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
 Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
 City: FULLERTON State: CA Country: US

DESCRIPTION
 ACFT ON BASE LEG FOR RUNWAY 6, STRUCK THE RADIO TOWER AND CRASHED, THE TWO PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, FULLERTON, CA

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 2
 # Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Pass: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: CLEAR
OTHER DATA
 Activity: Pleasure Phase: Approach Operation: General Aviation
 Departed: EL MONTE Dep Date: 12/19/2004 Dep. Time:
 Destination: FULLERTON, CA Flt Plan: UNK Wx Briefing: U
 Last Radio Cont: CLRD TO LAND  Last Clearance: CLRD TO LAND
 FAA FSDO: LONG BEACH, CA (WP05) Entry date: 12/20/2004

FMI: www.ci.fullerton.ca.us/airport