Two Aircraft Collide Near Malibu
Authorities in Malibu (CA) have recovered the remains of three
people who were lost in a midair collision over the beach on
Sunday. Both went down over the El Matador State Beach.
"One plane crashed on the shoreline; the other crashed in the
water about 100 yards offshore, in 15 feet of water," Capt. Mark
Savage of the Los Angeles County Fire Department told the LA Daily
News. "One victim was ejected from the aircraft and landed on the
beach. Some remains of a person from the other aircraft landed on
the beach as well."
One of the aircraft, a Thorp T-18 (file photo of type, above),
carried two people. The FAA said that flight originated in
Torrance. It impacted the water and came to rest in a bed of kelp
just offshore. The other plane, a Citabria 7ECA from Santa Paula
(file photo of type, below), went down in the surf. Initial report
said there were also two people on board that aircraft.
Divers found two bodies inside the Thorp, according to the Daily
News. A third body washed up on shore. The search continues for a
fourth.
"We heard this bang," said Peter Colley of Woodland Hills, who
was boogie boarding during the collision. Colley told the Daily
News that "we looked up and saw one aircraft spiraling toward the
water with part of one wing broken off."
FAA Preliminary Accident Reports
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 7618T
Make/Model: EXP Description:
EXP- THORP T-18 HOME BUILT
Date: 08/22/2004 Time: 0030
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
Fatal Mid Air: Y
Missing:
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City:
MALIBU
State: CA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
MID AIR COLLISSION APPROX 100 FT OFFSHORE. N7618T, A
THORP T-18 HOME
BUILT, COLLIDED WITH N53879, A BELLANCA 7ECA, 2 MI NORTH OF
ZUMA BEACH,
MALIBU, CA. FOUR FATAL. N53879 WASHED UP ON
SHORE WITH ONE OCCUPANT. THE
THORP IS SUBMERGED IN 15 FT OF WATER WITH TWO
FATALITIES. MALIBU, 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: KSMO 230051Z AUTO 24012G16KT 10SM CLR 21/14
A2988
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase:
Unknown Operation: General
Aviation
Destination:
UNKN
Flt Plan: UNK
Wx Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: UNKN
Last Clearance: UNKN
FAA FSDO: LOS ANGELES, CA
(WP23)
Entry date: 08/23/2004
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 53879
Make/Model: CH7A Description:
7ACA/ECA CHAMP, CITABRIA
Date: 08/22/2004 Time: 0030
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
Fatal Mid Air: Y Missing:
N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City:
MALIBU
State: CA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
MID AIR COLLISSION APPROX 100 FT OFFSHORE. N7618T, A
THORP T-18 HOME
BUILT, COLLIDED WITH N53879, A BELLANCA 7ECA, 2 MI NORTH OF
ZUMA BEACH,
MALIBU, CA. FOUR FATAL. N53879 WASHED UP ON
SHORE WITH ONE OCCUPANT. THE
THORP IS SUBMERGED IN 15 FT OF WATER WITH TWO
FATALITIES. MALIBU, 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: KSMO 230051Z AUTO 24012G16KT 10SM CLR 21/14
A2988
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase:
Cruise Operation: General
Aviation
Departed:
UNKN
Dep Date: Dep.
Time:
Destination:
UNKN
Flt Plan: UNK
Wx Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: UNKN
Last Clearance: UNKN
FAA FSDO: LOS ANGELES, CA
(WP23)
Entry date: 08/23/2004
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