At about 1534 Pacific time, the two aircraft collided in flight while approaching to land. The midair collision occurred at a location and in a flight direction consistent with the 172 entering the left-hand traffic pattern, and the 150 being in the patterns downwind leg. All four aboard both aircraft were fatally injured; a person on the ground also was killed. Both airplanes were fragmented during the midair collision and were subsequently destroyed upon falling nose down into buildings, automobiles and parking lots. A witness reported continuously observing both airplanes cruise toward each other for at least five seconds preceding the collision. No maneuvering was observed during the seconds immediately prior to the impact.
January 20, 2008, Corona, Calif., Cessna 150M/Cessna 172N
At about 1534 Pacific time, the two aircraft collided in flight while approaching to land. The midair collision occurred at a location and in a flight direction consistent with the 172 entering the left-hand traffic pattern, and the 150 being in the patterns downwind leg. All four aboard both aircraft were fatally injured; a person on the ground also was killed. Both airplanes were fragmented during the midair collision and were subsequently destroyed upon falling nose down into buildings, automobiles and parking lots. A witness reported continuously observing both airplanes cruise toward each other for at least five seconds preceding the collision. No maneuvering was observed during the seconds immediately prior to the impact.
Key Takeaways:
- Two aircraft collided in mid-air at 1534 Pacific time while approaching to land, consistent with one entering and the other on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern.
- The collision resulted in the fatalities of all four occupants aboard both aircraft and one person on the ground, with both planes fragmenting and destroying structures upon impact.
- A witness observed the aircraft continuously cruise toward each other for at least five seconds preceding the collision, with no maneuvering observed immediately prior to impact.
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