On March 9, 1996, a Bellanca 7GCAA (registration N5052Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Los Alamitos, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other. Factors were the pilots' failure to use available radar services. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Bellanca N5052Y and a Piper PA-28 N8179A collided nearly head-on while climbing and descending respectively. Both aircraft sustained left-side damage. Neither pilot had requested radar traffic advisories.
Events Leading to Collision
The pilot of the Bellanca N5052Y was climbing to 5,500 feet mean sea level (msl) at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute on an easterly heading. He reported hearing a loud bang but did not see the other aircraft. The pilot of the Piper PA-28 N8179A was descending through 4,500 feet msl on a westerly heading. He saw the other airplane cross the center of his windshield to the left and stated he had no time to perform an evasive maneuver. The two airplanes collided almost head-on.
Damage Sustained
The left side of both aircraft was damaged in the collision. No further details on the extent of damage were provided in the initial report.
Pilot Actions
Neither pilot requested radar traffic advisories from any air traffic control facility prior to the accident. No other communications with air traffic control were noted.
Investigation
The investigation documented the flight paths and the collision sequence based on pilot statements. No additional causal factors or contributing elements were identified in the available information.