[FAA spokesperson Kenitzer info] There was an aircraft accident Friday afternoon presumably involving two separate aircraft in California. The first, a Beech 35 Bonanza and the second, a Citabria. It is presumed the two aircraft collided in midair near San Pedro under unknown circumstances at approximately 3:00 p.m. PST.Local authorities say that two people were aboard the Beech Bonanza and one person was onboard the Citabria.
The FAA and the NTSB will investigate.
This is all of the information we have at this time.
(Feb. 5, 2016) -- As flashed on our front page earlier today (Fri. Feb. 5), at least one plane is confirmed down, and a second aircraft not yet confirmed is believed down, in waters in or around San Pedro with a debris field visible near the San Pedro breakwater/Angels Gate.
Two persons aboard one aircraft, and a third person (a woman) aboard a second, are missing. Multiple emergency units responded after initial reports of one small plane down in the 3 p.m. hour (weather was sunny and clear.) An FAA spokesperson declined to confirm a second aircraft was involved in the 5 p.m. hour, and in a 9 p.m. news conference, a U.S. Coast Guard representative called what took place a "potential" mid-air collision and cited reasons to believe a second aircraft was involved with the circumstances currently unclear.
The USGS rep said a logbook found in debris indicated one plane's tail number and owner and indicated two individuals were aboard that plane. An FAA spokesperson separately confirmed to LBREPORT.com that the plane with two aboard was a Beech 35 Bonanza.
Re a second plane, USCG indicated that FAA radar identified a partial number in the area, narrowing down a link to a second aircraft which had a woman aboard and was overdue for arrival at Torrance airport.
