This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N166TW
- History of Flight:
On April 9, 2026, at about 1230 local time, a privately-registered The Airplane Factory Sling LSA, N166TW, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Avalon, California. The pilot and passenger were killed. The flight originated from the Zamperini Field-Torrance Airport (TOA/KTOA), Torrance, California, at 1053 LT, and was destined to an unknown location.
According to preliminary automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed KTOA and proceeded south towards Catalina Island while cruising at 4,000 ft. At 1108 LT, the airplane initiated a descent towards 800 ft that last roughly 5 minutes. At this point, flightradar24 stopped tracking the airplane. At 1112:42, the airplane was observed 3 miles west of Catalina Airport (KAVX), it was at 800 ft, 92 knots groundspeed, and descending 200 feet per minute. At this point, flightaware stopped tracking the airplane, but ADS-B exchange recorded two additional points in south of the island, the airplane was at 500 ft, 98 knots, and descending 100 feet per minute along the shoreline about 6 miles from the airport. This was the last recorded data point.
According to law enforcement, the airplane crashed in the vicinity of Divine Road which is located west of Avalon, California. This road is located 5.70 miles from the airport (see figures).
Figure 1: ADS-B exchange data of entire flight.
Figure 2: ADS-B exchange data ran through Google Earth pro with Divine Road marked.
- Pilot Information:
Unknown.
- Aircraft Information:
The accident aircraft, serial number 161, was a two seat (side-by-side), single engine, tricycle undercarriage, aluminium aircraft with a conventional low wing design and is compliant with the requirements of the FAA Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category according to ASTM Standards F2245, F2279 and F2295, and was powered by a Rotax 912 iS engine that drove a 3-blade DUC FLASH propellers.
The Sling LSA is primarily intended for recreational and cross-country flying. It is not intended for aerobatic operation. It is considered to be suitable for use as a trainer.
According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), section 2.2 "Airspeed Limitations":
Vs Stall Speed 45 KIAS:
The aircraft will stall at this speed with flaps fully retracted, at MAUW in the most forward CG configuration and engine idling.
VS0 Stall Speed in Landing Configuration 40 KIAS :
The aircraft will stall at this speed with full flap, at maximum all up weight in the most forward CG configuration and engine idling.
According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), section 2.13 "Kinds of Operation":
2.13.1 Normal VFR Operation
The Sling LSA, in standard configuration, is approved only for day VFR operation with visual contact with terrain.
2.13.3 IFR Operation
Provided that the aircraft is appropriately equipped, the aircraft may be safely flown under IFR. Depending on the practical and legal requirements of the judicial region the aircraft will be operated, the aircraft may also be safely flown in IMC conditions, in accordance with IFR. It is the responsibility of the aircraft operator to ensure that all legal and safety requirements are met, along with the installation of the required systems and instrumentation for IFR (and IMC) flight. However, in the United States of America, all flights (VFR and IFR) are to be conducted in VMC, as per the applicable LSA standards.
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The airplane crashed in remote mountainous terrain.
- Airport Information:
Santa Catalina Island is located about 20 miles offshore from the southern California mainland. The island terrain is extremely rugged. AVX was situated on a small mesa, at an elevation of about 1,600 feet above mean sea level (msl). According to the Catalina Conservancy, which is the steward agency for AVX, the airport mesa was man-made by removing the tops of two adjacent mountains, and using that material to fill in the lower-elevation region between the two.
The airport and runway topography are somewhat unusual. It is very common practice for flight schools and fixed base operators in that region to require airport-specific checkouts prior to allowing any pilot to fly there on his/her own.
The single concrete runway, designated 4/22, measured 3,000 by 75 feet. The threshold of runway 22 was situated at an elevation of 1,553 feet. Over the first 2,000 feet, the runway sloped evenly upward to an elevation of about 1,597 feet msl. This yielded a runway gradient of about 2.2 percent, or about 1.26º. Beyond that point, the runway rose more gradually, to a maximum elevation of about 1,605 feet at the runway 4 threshold. The gradient profile made the runway appear "humped," and rendered aircraft positioned at opposite thresholds invisible to one another.
According to an additional airport remark, "Operations PROHIBITED AT NIGHT OR WHEN ARPT IS UNATNDD."
According to the Catalina Conservancy Web Site Information for Pilots...
"Be Aware:
1) There are no familiar visual cues for altitude reference. You MUST [emphasis original] rely on your Altimeter. [capitalization original]"
- Weather:
(1) Brief:
The recorded weather at KTOA at 1149 LT included: Winds 070 at 6 knots, 10 mile visibility, a scattered cloud layer at 1,500 ft AGL, temperature 21°C, dewpoint 15°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of mercury.
The recorded weather at KNUC at 1156 LT included: Winds 270 at 9 knots, 10 mile visibility, a scattered cloud layer at 900 ft AGL, a broken cloud layer at 18,000 ft AGL and 25,000 ft AGL, temperature 20°C, dewpoint 17°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.00 inches of mercury.
(2) METARs
METAR KTOA 091747Z 11005KT 10SM FEW009 SCT015 21/15 A2997
METAR KTOA 091849Z 07006KT 10SM SCT015 21/15 A2997
METAR KTOA 091948Z COR 12007KT 10SM FEW018 SCT110 BKN180 22/16 A2995
METAR KNUC 091756Z 27010KT 10SM FEW009 SCT180 BKN250 20/17 A2999 RMK SLPNO T02000167 51012
METAR KNUC 091856Z 27009KT 10SM SCT009 BKN180 BKN250 20/17 A3000 RMK SLPNO T02000172
METAR KNUC 091956Z 27007KT 10SM FEW010 BKN180 BKN250 21/17 A2999 RMK SLPNO T02110172
(3) Area Forecast Discussion:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
1101 AM PDT Thu Apr 9 2026
UPDATED AVIATION SECTION
.SYNOPSIS...09/836 AM.
A cooling trend will begin today and continue through the weekend.
A couple storms will move through the area late Friday through
Monday with showers and thunderstorms possible, especially
Sunday.
&&
.SHORT TERM (TDY-SAT)...09/853 AM.
***UPDATE***
An upper low is approaching northern California this morning
which will be followed by an even colder upper low late Saturday
into Sunday. For the short term the main impacts locally will be
cooler temperatures as onshore flow returns as well as increasing
morning low clouds and fog. As mentioned below, the first system
for late Friday into Saturday will have minimal impact as the
upper low remains mostly over northern California. A few showers
but amounts from a trace of rain to around a quarter inch, highest
north of Pt Conception.
The second system for late Saturday into Sunday will be the
stronger of the two and with the potential for heavy showers and
severe storms, especially north of Pt Conception.
***From Previous Discussion***
A series of late season storms is still on track to affect the
state Friday into the weekend. There is now a broad consensus that
the 1st storm will pull up to the north and will not bring as
much moisture and dynamics to the area as once thought. A weak
front will likely bring rain to SLO and most of SBA county on
Friday with just a chc of afternoon rain over VTA county. LA
county will likely be dry during the morning and afternoon hours.
SLO county will see the bulk of the weather action, since they
will be closest to the upper low. There is just enough dynamics
and instability there to warrant a slight chc of TSTMs. Rainfall
north of Pt Conception looks like it will be around a tenth of an
inch with up to a half inch over the far NW corner of SLO county
and anywhere a TSTM forms. A trace to a tenth of an inch is
possible across the SBA south coast and VTA county. Clouds, rain
and falling hgts will all contribute to a 3 to 6 locally 8 degree
cooling trend.
The weak front will move through the entire area Friday night into
Saturday morning. Most areas will see a 40 to 50 percent chc of
rain during this time. Rainfall amounts will not be too much at
all mostly around a tenth of an inch.
Right now it looks like Saturday will mostly be between storms. A
cold 535 dam system will work its way down the coast during the
day. During the morning there is about a 40 percent chc that rain
from this system will reach the Central Coast. A slight chc of
rain from the outgoing system will linger over SE LA county. Rain
will likely (70 percent chc) develop over SLO county in the
afternoon with a 50 to 60 percent chc for western SBA county.
There is a chc (30 to 40 percent) that rain will reach the rest of
SBA county and VTA county. Rainfall amounts during this time are
not looking impressive. Except for nrn SLO county most areas will
not see more than a tenth of an inch of rain during the day. Nrn
SLO county could see a quarter to a third of an inch. Another 3 to
6 degrees of cooling will bring all cst/vly temps into the 60s or
4 to 8 degrees blo normal.
.LONG TERM (SUN-WED)...09/220 AM.
On Saturday night a colder and more vigorous upper low will move
into nrn CA. It will bring a wetter and much more dynamic front
into the area. There is a greater than 80 percent chc that all
areas will see rain overnight. The front will likely produce a
number of TSTMs. It will have at least advisory level southerly
winds in the mtns and interior vlys and perhaps over the Central
Coast as well. The south winds will bring enhanced precip totals
and rates to the transverse ranges. Any TSTM that forms will also
bring enhanced precip totals and rates to areas they pass over.
At this point it looks like the flatter portions of the csts and
vlys will see a half to three quarters of an inch of rain
overnight with inch plus amounts on the across the foothills and
coastal slopes and any area affected by TSTMs. Most rainfall
rates will be between 0.25 to 0.75 in/hr but higher rates will be
possible under any TSTM that develops.
Snow levels will fall to about 5500 ft and accumulating snow will
fall above 6000 ft.
These rainfall and snowfall numbers are still preliminary and are
still subject to change. The most likely factor that would change
the numbers are the speed of the front (slower = more rain /
faster = less rain) and the trajectory of the parent upper low.
Still confidence in this forecast is higher than it has been.
The main front will exit LA county sometime between dawn and mid
morning on Sunday. There will be some shower activity behind the
front but additional rainfall amounts will not amount to much. It
will feel more like a rainy January day with max temps only in the
lower to mid 60s.
There is a 20 to 30 percent chc of lingering showers Sunday
night and a low by non zero chc Monday morning. These showers
should just be stray nuisance showers. By mid morning Monday dry
NW flow will set up over the area. Sunnier skies and rising hgts
will bring 2 to 4 locally 6 degrees of warming to the area. Max
temps, however, will be 8 to 12 degrees blo normal.
Tue and Wed will see a nice warming trend as the cold air moves
out of the area and high April sun angle combine to bring 4 to 8
degrees of warming Tuesday and 2 to 4 additional degrees on
Wednesday. Wednesday`s highs across the csts and vlys will almost
all be in the 70s.
&&
.AVIATION...09/1800Z.
At 1654Z at KLAX, the marine layer was 1600 ft deep. The top of
the inversion was at 2000 ft with a temperature of 17 C.
Overall, moderate confidence in 18Z TAF Package. Timing of flight
cat changes may be off +/- 2 hours and cig hgts by +/- 300 ft.
PROB30 -SHRA chances after 10/14Z for KPRB, KSBP, and KSMX.
KLAX...Moderate confidence in TAF. Low clouds could arrive as
early as 09Z or as late at 13Z. Cigs could range between 008 and
015. No significant east wind component expected.
KBUR...Moderate confidence in TAF. There is a 40% chc MVFR CIGs
(015) do NOT develop (remaining FEW-SCT) after 10/09Z.
&&
.MARINE...09/808 AM.
Current Small Craft Advisories are on track. Refer to MWWLOX and
CWFLOX for more details.
A weak Cold Front will move across the coastal waters Friday into
Saturday morning bringing showers and a slight chance for a
thunderstorm north of point conception.
A second system will arrive later on Saturday into Sunday with a
more traditional cold front. This stronger front will bring
numerous showers and a slight chance for thunderstorms across all
waters. Potential hazards include: heavy downpours, dangerous
cloud to ocean lightning, small hail, and erratic gusty winds.
Boaters, especially those with small vessels should avoid these
conditions.
- Additional Information:
This is the first fatal accident involving this aircraft type on US soil.
