Airplane Then Entered A Steep Right Turn In A Nose Down Attitude And Rapidly Descended Towards The Ground

Location: San Pedro, CA Accident Number: WPR23LA352
Date & Time: September 25, 2023, 12:50 Local Registration: N135WT
Aircraft: Wayne Toddun Sling 4 TSI Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

On September 25, 2023, about 1250 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Sling 4 TSI, N135WT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near San Pedro, California. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast data, the airplane departed about 1223. After a flight near the coastline, the instructor turned to a northerly heading to return to the airport. At 1245 the airplane turned to a northerly heading and about one minute later it began a descent from an altitude of about 2,400 ft mean sea level. At 1246:46, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he had “an engine failure” and requested approval to land. The controller immediately cleared the airplane to land and the pilot acknowledged the clearance. He then asked the pilot for his desired runway and the pilot responded with the “south runways”, referring to runways 29R and 29L. There were no further transmissions from the pilot.

A witness video that recorded the accident flight from about 1249 showed a trail of white smoke behind the airplane as it maintained a northerly heading. Approximately 12 seconds later the smoke ceased and the airplane subsequently began a right descending turn. The airplane then entered a steep right turn in a nose down attitude and rapidly descended towards the ground as it disappeared from view.

The airplane impacted a field about 3 nm southeast from the pilot’s destination airport, Zamperini Field Airport (TOA), Torrance, California.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov