20 Years of Santa Monica Airport Plane Crashes

Submitted by Santa Monica resident and Friends of Sunset park President Zina Josephs

The following is a partial list of aviation accidents, as of March 22, 2014, associated with Santa Monica Airport (SMO) since 1994. It’s based on the National Transportation Safety Board database, on newspaper accounts, and on personal accounts. Some of the accidents occurred at SMO, some while approaching SMO, some after departing from SMO, and some involved planes owned or operated by individuals or companies based at SMO.

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2/12/1994 – Cessna 172K -- N7333G – LAX94LA123 – Owner: H. Lacorne (Los Angeles). Operator: D. Leigh-Taylor (Santa Monica) – Nonfatal – After departing from SMO, the pilot reported that he was landing uphill on a private airstrip in New Cuyama with a gusting left cross wind. The pilot said he lost control after touchdown and the aircraft ground looped, damaging the wings and landing gear. The pilot suffered minor injuries.

3/11/1994 -- PIPER PA-28-180 – N8129W – LAX94FA159 – Owner/operator: D. Thompson (Culver City). -- Fatal (1) – After departing from SMO, the aircraft crashed into a home on Barrington Avenue near National, in West Los Angeles. Investigators blamed a loose engine cowling. The engine cowling, improperly fastened after repairs, came loose as the pilot attempted to return to the airport, creating so much wind resistance that the aircraft could no longer fly. The plane was destroyed. The passenger died, and the pilot was injured.

4/23/1994 – Fairchild SA-227 – N27220 – LAZ941A203 – The Skywest Airlines flight departed from Santa Maria for LAX. While descending into the downwind leg of the LAX traffic pattern, the commuter plane encountered wake turbulence from a receding Boeing 747-400 and the airplane rolled and inverted. The pilot recovered the airplane, and the flight continued and landed without further incident. Radar data showed that the commuter plane was ca. 5 miles from the B-747, which met the current separation criteria. The plane sustained minor damage, and one person suffered minor injuries. The zipcode of the event was 90405 (Santa Monica).

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4/20/1994 -- PIPER PA-32R-301T – N8171G – LAX94FA198 – Owner: C. Nassif (Studio City). Operator: P. Brinnon (Northridge) -- Fatal (1) – Just after lift-off from SMO, witnesses heard the engine sputter several times and then quit. The pilot began a 180-degree right turn, then descended nose-down and struck a utility pole and a residential garage on Ashland Avenue near 23rd. A post-crash fire ensued and the plane was destroyed. The pilot died on impact. The probable cause was fuel starvation resulting from the failure of the pilot to select a tank containing fuel, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. After this accident, the Santa Monica Airport Commission established a Safety Committee, which made 37 recommendations.

11/22/1994 -- BEECH 95-B55 – N1898W – LAX95LA040 – Owner: B. Yari (Houston, TX). Operator: Cloverfield Aviation (2501 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica – SMO) – Instructional -- Nonfatal – The instructor and student pilot departed from SMO on a cross-country checkout. The instructor knew the aircraft had inaccurate fuel gages. When the aircraft lost power, he glided to the SMO runway with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft was destroyed by the post-crash fire. Probable cause was loss of power in both engines due to fuel starvation cased by the instructor’s miscalculations.

5/7/1995 -- DAVENPORT LONG-EZ – N41BF – LAX95LA180 – Owner/operator: W. Davenport (Los Angeles) -- Nonfatal - The home-built experimental aircraft lost power as it approached SMO, snagged power lines, narrowly missed a home, and crashed into a garage in the 13000 block of Warren Avenue in Mar Vista. The plane was destroyed. The pilot was critically injured, with severe head injuries. The probable cause was fuel starvation due to a modification of the fuel system that rendered it incapable of maintaining adequate fuel pressure. This was the first flight following the removal of both fuel pumps by the pilot/owner. According to the NTSB, the builder/pilot’s lack of understanding of the fuel system was a factor in this accident.

7/13/1995 -- MOONEY M-20-M – N200CT – LAX95LA251 – Owner/operator: C. Tabor (Anderson, SC) -- Nonfatal – During takeoff roll at SMO, en route to Abilene, Texas, the pilot realized he had no airspeed indication, decided to abort the takeoff, and skidded off the end of the runway. The plane caught fire and sustained substantial damage. The probable cause was an improperly installed pitot line to the airspeed indicator.

8/12/1995 – Ronnenberg/Murphy Berkut – N91DR – LAX95LA289 – Owners: Ronnenberg/Murphy (3025 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica - SMO). Operator: Experimental Aviation -- Fatal (1) – During a demonstration air show routine in Santa Paula, the pilot inadvertently entered into an accelerated stall in a maximum performance high-g turn, at an altitude insufficient to recover aircraft control prior to colliding with the ground. The plane was destroyed, and the pilot died.

8/4/1996 – Cessna 421C 00 N6209V – LAX96LA296 – Owner: T. Svadgian (Las Vegas). Operator: S. Badzhaksizyan (Laguna Beach). Nonfatal – The plane departed from SMO for Avalon. On landing, the airplane “appeared to float” and did not touch down until midfield on the 3,240-ft runway. The pilot was unable to stop in time. The plane went down an embankment, collided with rough terrain, and came to rest about 120 feet SW of the runway’s end. The plane sustained substantial damage. 7 people were injured (4 seriously). Probable cause was the pilot’s failure to initiate a go-around when a landing overshoot became apparent. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the pilot’s excessive airspeed and misjudged distance during landing, his lack of flying experience in the Cessna, and overconfidence in his personal ability. The pilot previously had landed at SMO. According to the FAA, at Santa Monica the airplane had touched down about 1,000 feet prior to the end of that 4,957-foot-long runway.

2/7/1997 -- Cessna 310Q – N10ML – LAX97LA097 – Owner: Circuitron Corp. (Wilmington, Delaware). Operator: G. Hakman (Los Angeles) -- Nonfatal – After departing SMO for Camarillo, both engines lost power. The pilot made a forced landing on Rancho Park Golf Course, 10640 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles 90064. The planed collided with trees and rough terrain and sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and passenger suffered minor injuries. Both fuel selectors were improperly set to the left main tank, which was completely dry.

8/21/1997 – Cessna 172RG -- N99710B – LAX97LA297 – Owner/operator: Justice Aviation (2701 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica – SMO) -- Nonfatal -- After departing from SMO, the pilot landed hard at Fox Field in Lancaster. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft veered off to the left of the runway, sustaining substantial damage.

8/16/1998 – Cessna 177 -- N177GS – LAX98FA267 – Owner/operator: G. Suozzi (Marina del Rey) – Nonfatal -- The plane departed from Santa Barbara and the engine cased delivering power during the nighttime instrument landing approach to SMO. When they broke out of the clouds, it was apparent to the pilot that the aircraft would not be able to glide to SMO. He maneuvered the aircraft toward a school athletic field (Webster Junior High School, 11330 Graham Place, Los Angeles 90064 -- on Sawtelle Blvd. between Pico and National, in West Los Angeles) and made an emergency landing. The aircraft impacted a utility power pole and severed electrical wires prior to landing inverted on the athletic field. The plane was destroyed. Two people suffered major injuries, and two people suffered minor injuries. Two of the passengers told different witnesses that the aircraft had run out of fuel. Probable cause was the failure of the pilot to accurately determine that an adequate quantity of fuel was aboard the aircraft for the intended flight.

11/10/1998 – Piper PA-28-161 -- N822585 – LAX99LA032 – Owner/operator: G. Cook (3147 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica - SMO) – Instructional – Nonfatal – The student pilot departed from SMO on his first solo cross-country flight. The aircraft’s landing gear collided with a runway marker during landing at Santa Barbara, and the plane sustained substantial damage. The probable cause was the pilot’s inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition.

2/16/1999 – Grumman G-1159 – N711TE – LAX99FA101 – Owner/operator: Trans Exec Air Service (2828 Donald Douglas Loop North, Santa Monica - SMO) – Non-scheduled passenger flight -- Nonfatal – The air taxi departed Montrose, CO for Van Nuys. On final approach to VNY, the pilot flew the airplane above reference speed, landed long, overran the runway, and collided with airplanes in the tie down area. During descent, the airplane reached speeds of over 300 knots and attained descent rates in excess of 4,000 feet per minute. After the airplane came to a rest on the ground, the aircrew evacuated the plane prior to off-loading their passenger.

6/16/1999 -- Cessna 180K – N181RC – LAX99LA224 – Owner/operator: D. Wheeler (Santa Fe, NM) -- Nonfatal – After departing from Santa Ana for SMO, the pilot reported that he made a steep vertical descent before leveling off and landing on runway 21. A witness said the plane landed hard and porpoised down the runway four times before the left wing hit and the plane ground looped. The plane sustained substantial damage.

7/11/1999 -- Rose VELOCITY 173/FG-E – N137V – LAX99LA247 – Owner/operator: R. Flade (Beverly Hills) -- Nonfatal – After departing from Camarillo, the plane landed at SMO. A strong gust of wind lifted the wing, then the plane bounced and porpoised down the runway. The pilot attempted a go around, but the plane veered off the runway, passed over a taxiway, clipped 2 parked planes, crossed another taxiway, and hit a steel hanger door. The plane sustained substantial damage, and two people suffered minor injuries.

9/23/1999 -- Cessna 421C – N26585 – LAX99FA310 – Owner/operator: River Transportation LLC (Arroyo Grande, CA) – Executive/corporate flight -- Nonfatal – Departing from Long Beach, during the final approach at SMO, while executing a VOR-A instrument approach, the land plane landed hard, collided with the runway VASI display, and caught fire. The impact collapsed the landing gear and the airplane slid forward another 1,000 feet down the runway. The plane sustained substantial damage, and one person suffered minor injuries. The probable cause was the failure of the pilot to establish and maintain a stabilized approach.

10/31/1999 – Cessna 170A – N9063 – LAX000LA029 – Owner/operator: A. Bergman (Santa Monica) – Nonfatal – After departing from SMO, the pilot perceived that his airplane’s engine was running rough.

He elected to make a precautionary landing on a smooth dry lakebed in El Mirage, CA to evaluate the engine. During rollout, the pilot lost directional control and ground looped. The plane sustained substantial damage.

3/28/2001 -- Cessna 172N – N2838E – LAX01FA129 – Owner: Bill Bryan, Inc. (Los Angeles). Operator: Justice Aviation, (2701 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica – SMO) -- Fatal (3) – A non-instrument rated private pilot rented a Cessna 172 from Justice Aviation. The pilot had taken his primary flight lessons from a Texas-based school and he was, by his own admission, not familiar with flying around marine cloud layers. After departing from SMO, while flying over the ocean on a dark, moonless night, the pilot initiated a turn away from the city lights and commenced descending with a vertical descent rate of over 2,100 feet per minute. A witness one mile away reported that the plane looked as though it was falling straight into the water. The probable cause was the pilot’s loss of airplane control while maneuvering due to spatial disorientation. Contributing factors were the dark night, the marine cloud layer that restricted the pilot’s cruising altitude, and the pilot’s lack of familiarity with nighttime flight over the ocean. The plane was destroyed. The pilot and 2 passengers died.

11/13/2001 -- Cessna 340A – N2RR – LAX02FA028 – Owner/operator: R. Runyon (Los Angeles) –

Fatal (2) – During takeoff from SMO en route to Van Nuys, witnesses reported observing the airplane traveling along the runway at an unusually high speed, with normal engine sound, but without becoming airborne, followed by an abrupt reduction in engine power and the sound of screeching tires. Skid marks were present on the last 1,000 feet of the runway. The plane vaulted an embankment, impacted a guardrail on an airport service road 30 feet below, near 23rd St., and burst into flames. The probable cause was the pilot’s failure to remove the control gust lock prior to takeoff, and his failure to abort the takeoff with sufficient runway remaining to stop the plane on the runway. The plane was destroyed. Both the pilot and his passenger died.

2/3/2002 – Beech 95-B55 – N9DD – LAX02LA076 -- Nonfatal – The twin engine plane, piloted by the owner, took off from SMO. It lost power in both engines and landed short of the Hi Desert Airport runway in an unprepared field near homes in Joshua Tree. The plane sustained substantial damage. The main tanks each had 23 gallons of fuel remaining, and the fuel selector valve handles were in the main tank position. (Source: aircrashed.com)

6/6/2003 – Beech A36TC – N1856P – LAX03FA182 – Owner/operator: J. Siegel (Santa Monica) –

Fatal (5) -- The aircraft took off from SMO, headed for Las Vegas. During the en route climb-out, the airplane entered the base of an overcast cloud layer, and then descended out of the clouds in a spinning, steep nose down attitude that continued to impact with a 3-story apartment building at 601 N. Spalding Drive, near Fairfax High School. It collided with the roof and came to rest in a subterranean parking area. A post-impact fire destroyed the plane. Probable cause was the pilot’s in-flight loss of control due to spatial orientation and failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall/spin. Also causal was the pilot’s disregard of the weather information provided and his attempt to continue VFR flight into IMC (instrument meteorological conditions, which require a pilot to follow IFR or Instrument Flight Rules). The pilot did not hold an instrument rating. The pilot and passengers had been at the airport for at least 8 hours, waiting for weather conditions to clear. The pilot, 3 passengers, and a resident of the apartment building died. There were also 7 serious injuries on the ground.

12/23/2003 – Learjet 24B -- N600XJ – LAX04FA075 – Owner/operator: Pavair (3135 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica - SMO) – Executive/corporate flight – Fatal (2) -- After departing from Chino (CNO) for Sun Valley, the aircraft departed from controlled flight for undetermined reasons and crashed near Helendale, CA. The plane was destroyed. The captain and first officer were fatally injured.

3/16/2004 – Mooney M20K – N1148V – LAX04FA162 – Owner/operators: P. Tobias & H. Kilpatrick –(Malibu) -- Fatal (2) – During an attempted missed approach in heavy fog at SMO, the aircraft crashed into a home on Mountain View Avenue in Mar Vista. The accident occurred while the pilot was returning home following a skiing vacation in Mammoth. As the pilot approached the airport, a fog bank moved in and the local weather conditions deteriorated. Near the time that the pilot received his instrument approach clearance, the visibility decrease to ½ mile, and the ceiling lowered to 200 feet above ground level; however, that information was not disseminated to the pilot by either the control tower or approach controller, contrary to FAA internal directives. The radar showed the airplane making 360-degree turns about ½ mile from the runway until descending, with what ground witnesses described as increasingly steep angles of bank, into a house. Probable cause was the pilot’s loss of airplane control while maneuvering due to spatial disorientation. Contributing factors were the low ceiling, reduced visibility (fog), and the pilot’s lack of instrument flying currency. The plane was destroyed. The pilot and his wife died. http://articles.latimes.com/2004/mar/17/local/me-plane17

12/4/2004 -- Piper PA-28-181 – N253D – LAX05CA043 – Owner: J. Olson. Operator: Justice Aviation – (Santa Monica - SMO) -- Instructional -- Nonfatal – Flown by a student pilot, the plane failed to touch down and, about halfway down the SMO runway, continued to float. When it finally touched down, the instructor applied the brakes, turned right to avoid a ditch, and overran the runway. The plane sustained substantial damage. The probable cause was inadequate supervision, inadequate compensation for tailwind conditions, and delayed remedial action.

2/10/2005 – Cessna P210N -- N432AR – LAX05FA092 – Fatal (2) – Owner/operator: Action Air Express (2701 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica - SMO) – Non-scheduled passenger flight -- After departing from Fresno for SMO, during the instrument cross-country flight at night, the pilot encountered severe turbulence at 9,000 ft msl and entered an uncontrolled descent to impact with mountainous terrain at 2,300 feet msl near Lebec, CA. NO record was found that the pilot obtained a preflight or in-flight weather briefing from any official aviation weather service. The plane was destroyed. 2 people died.

3/13/2006 -- Beech A36 – N16JR – LAX06FA129 – Owners: Carlin & Tomarken. (Los Angeles) Operator: P. Tomarken -- Fatal (2) – The engine lost power during the takeoff-initial climb from SMO. The pilot tried to return to the airport, then planned to attempt to land on the beach, and ended up ditching into the ocean, where the plane sank in 20 feet of water. Probable cause was the failure of an aviation maintenance technician to properly torque and cotter pin the number 2 connecting rod bolts at their attach point to the crankshaft, which resulted in separation in flight and complete power loss. The pilot (game show host Peter Tomarken) and his wife died. The Tomarkens, who were volunteers with Angel Flight West, a non-profit organization that provides free transportation to needy medical patients, were flying to San Diego to pick up a cancer patient who needed transportation to UCLA Medical Center.

5/3/2006 – Piper PA-28-181 -- N441MA – LAX06CA159 -- Owner: S.White. Operator: Justice Aviation (Santa Monica – SMO) – Nonfatal -- After departing from Paso Robles for Columbia, CA, the airplane veered off the Columbia runway and came to rest in a ditch. The plane sustained substantial damage. One person suffered minor injuries.

8/31/2006 – Cessna 172P -- N97306 – LAX06CA281 – Owner/operator: Tower 20 Enterprises (Santa Monica). Nonfatal – After departing from SMO, the pilot collided with a house during a go-around in Spanish Springs, Nevada. The plane sustained substantial damage.

8/31/2007 – Lancair Company LC41-550FG – N2520P – SEA07FA247 – Owner/operator: A. Pasori (Solvang) – Fatal (6) -- After departing from SMO for Kernville, the plane crashed near Kern Valley Airport. A witness at the airport stated that, after aborting a first landing attempt, the plane began a left turn, followed by its nose dropping straight down before impacting terrain and bursting into flames. The airplane was completely destroyed by the post-impact fire. Subsequent to purchasing the plane, the pilot had received Lancair training from a certified flight instructor who was neither factory trained, nor a Lancair/Columbia factory trained instructor. The plane, which was designed for pilot and 3 passengers, was 65 lbs over the maximum takeoff weight and 85 lbs over maximum landing weight, and was carrying 6 persons. All 6 died (4 adults and 2 children).

1/13/2008 -- DeSousa Jabiru J400 – N522RJ – SEA08LA060 – Owner/operator: R. de Sousa (Boulder, Colorado) -- Nonfatal -- After departing from Avalon for Santa Monica, the private pilot of the home-built aircraft stated that the airplane touched down beyond the midpoint of the SMO runway. The brakes failed, and the plane overran the runway and collided with a ditch. The plane sustained substantial damage. The probable cause was the pilot’s failure to attain the proper touchdown point and the loss of the wheel brake system.

10/7/2008 -- Iniziative Industriali Italian Sky Arrow 600 Sport – N454SA – WPRO9FA005 – Owner/operator: Northfield Aviation LLC (3100 Donald Douglas Loop North, Santa Monica - SMO) – Instructional -- Fatal (1) – After departing from SMO, witnesses observed the plane flying low over the water. And then, while it was making a steep left turn, they saw it nose over and impact the ocean off Malibu and sink. The student pilot and instructor, who suffered critical injuries, were flown by helicopter to UCLA Medical Center. The instructor died on 10/24/08.

1/28/2009 -- SIAI-MARCHETTI SF-260C – N688C – WPRO9FA102 – Owner: Wingspan, Inc. (Malibu). Operator: P. Emmanuelle (Santa Monica) -- Fatal (2) – On departing from SMO, witnesses observed the airplane climb normally after takeoff until reaching an altitude between 200 and 400 feet, then the engine sound stopped. The airplane appeared to slow down as it made a right turn, followed by a descending spin until impacting the west end of the runway and bursting into flames. The probable cause was the pilot’s failure to select the proper fuel tank for takeoff, which resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control while attempting a return to runway maneuver. The pilot, Paulo Emmanuelle, who was the general manager of the Airliners.net website, and his passenger both died.

8/2/2009 -- Davenport DAVE-EZ – NTCE – WPR09LA380 – Owner/operator: W. Davenport (Los Angeles) -- Nonfatal -- The aircraft experienced engine failure after takeoff from SMO. The pilot attempted to turn back to land but crashed on the taxiway and suffered serious injuries. The plane sustained substantial damage. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

7/1/2010 -- Cessna 152 – N94838 – WPR10FA325 Owner: Kim Davidson Aviation (an FAA Certificated Repair Station at 2701 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica - SMO). Operator: Justice Aviation (3011 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica - SMO) -- Fatal (1) – During the takeoff climb following a touch-and-go landing SMO, the pilot communicated with a tower controller that he needed to return to the airport for landing, but did not indicate the type of problem. Witnesses observed the airplane make a 90-degree left turn and enter into a spiraling nose-dive. The airplane subsequently impacted a copse of trees near the 8th hole of the Penmar Golf Course. The plane sustained substantial damage. The pilot died. Probable cause was the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and airplane control during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and subsequent impact with the ground.

7/2/2010 – Beech E-55 – N3644A 00 WPR10LA347 – Owner: Kian Aviation (Pasadena). Operator: K. Heknat (Beverly Hills) – Nonfatal – After departing from SMO, the aircraft flew to Las Vegas. On approach to McCarran International Airport (LAS), the pilot reported that the airplane experienced a total electrical failure. During landing rollout, the nose gear collapsed, followed by the collapse of both main landing gear. The plane sustained substantial damage.

3/10/11 -- Piper PA-280R-200 – N75224 – WPR11LA160 – Owner: Justice Aviation or East Pole Aviation LLC (New York). Operator: Justice Aviation, 3011 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica – SMO) -- Instructional -- Nonfatal – After departing from SMO, the plane lost power and the instructor from Justice Aviation took over from the student pilot. Despite numerous attempts to regain engine power, he was unsuccessful and was forced to land in a field near Agoura Hills. The plane sustained substantial damage.

8/29/2011 -- Cessna 172M – N5155Q -- WPR11FA415 -- Owner: Planeminder LLC. Operator: Justice Aviation (3011 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica – SMO) – Instructional -- Nonfatal – A few seconds after liftoff from SMO en route to Santa Barbara, the student pilot observed that the airspeed indicator was malfunctioning, and he was cleared to return to the airport. As the plane approached the last ¼ of the runway, it was still about 30 to 40 feet above the surface, and the SMO controller directed him to go around. The pilot raised the wing flaps and pushed the throttle full forward but, observing power lines in front of the airplane, he maneuvered right and left to avoid them. The airplane initially collided with a tree about 900 feet west of the end of the runway, and then collided into a wall and the side of a private residence at 21st and Navy in Santa Monica 90405. The plane was substantially damaged. The student pilot, the sole occupant of the plane, was seriously injured, and two painters working outside the house suffered minor injuries. “The student pilot, as well as his flight instructor, reported that his flight instruction did not include operations simulating loss of airspeed indication. Although the student pilot reported checking the pitot tube prior to departure, post accident examination of the airplane’s pitot tube showed debris, consistent with soil and insect material, was present between the ram air inlet and the drain hole. This resulted in the airspeed indicator showing zero airspeed.”

8/10/12 – Cessna P210N – N41KA – WPR12FA439 – Owner/Operator: private pilot – Fatal (1) – About 4 PM, a Cessna impacted trees and terrain about 3 miles northeast of SMO. The private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was on a personal flight and was fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage in the post impact fire. According to an LA City firefighter, he heard tree branches snapping, turned around, and saw the airplane in a nose down attitude. The airplane struck a 30-foot-tall palm tree, rotated 90 degrees, and dropped straight down. The witness did not recall hearing the sound of the plane’s engine.

4/12/13 – Beechcraft 95-C55 – N153NL – WPR13LA189 – Owner/Operator: Schuster Aviation, LLC. About 1:30 PM, the aircraft was on the landing roll at SMO when the left main landing gear collapsed. The private pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that as he prepared to exit the runway, the airplane’s left brake locked and the tired deflated. Shortly thereafter, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane spun around the left wing. The pilot opined that the landing gear collapsed as a result of the tire’s debris interfering with the system.

4/29/13 – Cessna 172M – N64030 – WPR13FA211B – Owner: private party. Operator: a commercial pilot – Fatal (2) -- At about 2 PM PDT, two airplanes, a Cessna 172RG and a Cessna 172M collided in midair, approximately 3 miles southwest of Calabasas, CA. Both the commercial pilot and the private pilot in the Cessna 172M were fatally injured and the Cessna was destroyed. The aircraft had departed from SMO about 1:13 PM, and the pilot had contacted the SMO air traffic control tower and requested pattern work following maintenance. At 1:40, the pilot requested a departure to the west. “Witnesses reported they were hiking in the area when they a very loud strike. When they looked up, they observed two planes. One airplane (Cessna 172RG) was flying to the west. The other airplane (Cessna 172M) was rapidly descending toward the ground; they lost sign of it as it vertically descended behind a ridgeline; However, they saw a plume of black smoke shortly thereafter.”

4/29/13 – Cessna 172RG – N4677V – WPR13FA211A – Owner: AmeriFlyers of Florida, LLC. Operator: American Flyers – Instructional -- 1 serious and 2 minor injuries – At about 2 PM PDT, two airplanes, a Cessna 172RG and a Cessna 172N collided in midair, approximately 2 miles southwest of Calabasas. The Cessna 172RG flight instructor and the commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the pilot rated passenger sustain serious injuries. The Cessna 172RG sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot had requested clearance to depart SMO to the west en route to Camarillo, CA. The request was approved, and the aircraft departed from SMO about 1:53 PM

9/29/13 – Cessna 525A – N194SJ – WPR13FA430 – Owner: CREX-MML, LLC. Operator: private pilot -- Fatal (4) -- At 6:20 PM PDT, the aircraft veered off the right side of runway 21 at SMO and collided with a hangar. “The private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed by a post-crash fire. The flight originated at Hailey, Idaho.

“Witnesses reported observing the airplane make a normal approach and landing. The airplane traveled down the right side of the runway, eventually veered off the runway, impacted the 1,000-foot runway distance remaining sign, continued to travel in a right-hand turn, and impacted a hangar structure with the right wing. The airplane came to rest inside the hangar, and the damage to the hangar structure caused the roof to collapse onto the airplane. A post-accident fire quickly ensured.

“On-scene examination of the wreckage and runway revealed that there was no airplane debris on the runway. The three landing tires were inflated and exhibited no unusual wear patterns. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) control tower local controller reported that the pilot did not express over the radio any problems prior to or during the landing.”