History of Flight
On September 8, 2022, about 1626 Pacific daylight time, a Czech Sport Aircraft Piper Sport, N126WK, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Santa Monica, California. The flight instructor and passenger were fatally injured. The light-sport airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight was an introductory lesson for the passenger with a flight school based at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO).
ADS-B data showed the airplane departed runway 21 at 1551, flew west along the coast at varying altitudes, performed left 180° turns, reached Malibu, turned inland, then returned east toward Santa Monica. It performed two 360° steep turns and joined the right downwind for runway 21 at 1,200 ft msl. On final approach, it descended to 600 ft about 1.25 miles from the runway threshold.
Multiple witnesses observed the airplane land on runway 21, describing the landing as hard. The airplane then aggressively pitched up and climbed while the engine sounded at full power. It continued climbing in a nose-up attitude, leveled off about 100-200 ft agl, then spun left, descended, and collided with the ground.
Security video captured the airplane descending over runway markings at about 25 ft agl, then passing out of view. A second camera showed the main landing gear on the ground and the airplane pitching up to near vertical, climbing out of view. The shadow indicated it climbed for another two seconds before descending and striking the ground about five seconds later.
Audio from the airport CTAF recorded the flight instructor providing position calls, the tower controller clearing the airplane for "the option," and the instructor responding it would be a full-stop landing. Seconds later, the instructor was heard screaming, "let go, let go……. let go, let go, let go."
The airplane struck the ground nose-down and came to rest at the intersection of taxiway B and B4, about 375 ft south of the runway 21 threshold.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a two-seat, all-metal, low-wing monoplane, equipped with a 100-horsepower Rotax 912 ULS engine and a three-blade Sensenich propeller. It was manufactured in 2011 and operated as a light-sport aircraft. The operator, Santa Monica Flyers Inc., used it for flight training under Part 61.
Wreckage and Impact
The cabin, inboard wings, and entire tail section were consumed by fire. Examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure of the flight control system. The throttle was found in the full forward position, two of three propeller blades exhibited chordwise striations and leading edge nicks. Flaps were at full extension. The pitch trim servo was consumed by fire, and its position could not be determined.
Communications and Audio
The airplane was equipped with a PS Engineering PM3000 intercom. Microphone PTT switches were on both control sticks. The student pilot (passenger) was seated in the left pilot seat; the instructor in the right. Audio analysis indicated that the "let go" transmission was captured by the student's microphone, consistent with the student inadvertently pressing the PTT. Before the instructor's voice, a low-pitch grunting sound was audible; its source could not be definitively determined but did not appear mechanical.
Medical and Pathological Information
The instructor, age 24, held a commercial license with flight instructor-sport pilot rating, with about 1,500 hours total flight experience, including 1,100 hours as an instructor. His last FAA medical examination on June 9, 2022, showed no significant issues; he was issued a first-class certificate with corrective lenses requirement.
The passenger, age 28, held no pilot certificate. Autopsies for both occupants determined cause of death as blunt force traumatic injuries; no significant natural disease was identified. Toxicological testing did not detect any tested-for substances. The passenger's social media footage showed he was happy before the flight.
Organizational Information
The FAA Aviation Instructor's Handbook includes guidance on "Positive Exchange of Flight Controls," recommending that instructors always guard controls and calmly announce control transfer. According to the flight school, the instructor provided about one hour of ground instruction before the flight, discussing flight control handoffs.