Cessna 172N accident near Avalon, CA

On May 28, 2016, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near Avalon, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

May 28, 2016

Place

Avalon, CA

Aircraft

Cessna 172N · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

33.403°N, 118.409°W

NTSB ID

20160607X31317

Official records · WPR16FAMS1

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Record of Failed Communication - Encore Flight Academy: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Record of Email - NTSB Air Traffic Control Specialist: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

On May 28, 2016, about 1257 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N739ZE, is presumed to have crashed in the Pacific Ocean about 5 miles north of Avalon, California. The airplane was registered to Libra Air Inc. and operated by Encore Flight Academy as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The certified flight instructor and student pilot have not been located and the airplane is missing; presumed to be destroyed. Both pilots are presumed to be fatally injured. Both instrument and visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area, and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane departed Catalina Airport (AVX), Avalon, California about 1254 and was destined for Van Nuys Airport (VNY), Van Nuys, California. On May 29, 2016, a concerned family member of the student pilot contacted the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD) to report their family member missing. They reported that the student pilot went flying with an instructor the day prior, and they have not heard from him since. The LASD contacted Encore Flight Academy, who reported that the accident airplane was not at their facility, nor do they have record of it returning the day prior. The NTSB attempted to contact the operator numerous times, but to no avail; nor did the operator submit a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1. Review of radar data for the area revealed that the airplane took off from VNY and landed safely at AVX at 1209. At 1254, the airplane took off from AVX with its transponder in the off position and flew north. At 1257 the track e

Probable cause

Undetermined because the airplane was not located.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.