What happened
On October 8, 2024, a Beech 95-B55, registration N73WA, crashed into a ridgeline near Avalon, California. The accident involved a pilot, two pilot-rated passengers, and two student pilots, resulting in 5 fatal injuries.
The incident began when a flight instructor and two students were stranded at Catalina Airport (AVX) after a rental airplane experienced a magneto malfunction during preflight. A second aircraft, owned by an acquaintance of a flight school owner, was dispatched from Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMable) to retrieve the group.
The aircraft landed at AVX at 1820, prior to the airport's 1831 sunset deadline. After loading the passengers, the crew attempted to restart the engines, but the right engine failed to start due to insufficient battery power. While the crew attempted to charge the battery using an extension cord, the airport manager informed them that a departure after sunset would not be approved. Despite being warned that any departure would be unapproved and at their own risk, the pilot proceeded with the takeoff.
Airport security footage captured the aircraft beginning its takeoff roll on runway 22 at approximately 2004 under dark night conditions. ADS-B data indicated the airplane may have become airborne near the midpoint of the runway and maintained a low altitude. After passing the end of the runway, the aircraft entered a slight descent and a right turn. The airplane impacted the east face of a ridgeline approximately 0.96 miles west-southwest of the runway end at an elevation of 1,230 feet MSL. The aircraft struck the ground on a 280° heading in a wings-level attitude with the landing gear extended. The main wreckage was located in a ravine about 450 feet from the initial impact point.