PanAm747 From United States, joined Feb 2004, 4026 posts, RR: 6 Posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1261 times:
I am watching the local news right now - a small plane and a small helicopter have just collided in the skies over La Mesa, CA, a suburb just east of San Diego, very near Harry Griffin park.
There are no reports of any casualties on the ground; however, there is no word on the people on the aircraft.
The incident occured at approximately 4:30 PM - witnesses have reported seeing the collision and seeing both aircraft fall in pieces.
I will provide a link when one of the news stations updates their websites.
Hoping for the best.
Pan Am:The World's Most Experienced Airline - P(oor) S(ailor's) A(irline): San Diego's Hometown Airline-Catch Our Smile!
PSAjet17 From United States, joined Dec 2003, 179 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1139 times:
Story corrected to read two fixed wing aircraft collided just southwest of Gillespie Field (KSEE), three dead on the ground and assumed to be from the two aircraft. Weather was clear at the time of the accident with 25sm visibility and light winds from the west and some scattered clouds but this did occur about 45 minutes before sunset and the sun was low in the sky.
CBPhoto From United States, joined Dec 2003, 661 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1129 times:
Well...crashes come in threes, and I believe this is number 3 as far as mid-airs go. The one in Wisconsin, New Zealand, and now this, what a shame. RIP to all who were involved!!
Radiocheck From United States, joined Nov 2005, 32 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1082 times:
If anyone in San Diego has any more details than the press does about the incident, I would greatly appreciate it. I did all of my flight training at Gillespie Field. The airport and area around it are near and dear to my heart, and the aviation community at Gillespie is pretty tight knit. If anyone knows tail numbers, especially for the 172, I'd really like to know.
I don't know why but I started to tear up reading the article, I suppose because that could have been me, or any of my flying buddies. I couldn't even count the number of times I've been over La Mesa or El Cajon, inbound for Gillespie, or heading to Montgomery.
Smitty747 From United States, joined Feb 2006, 21 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1050 times:
One news station now reporting that the aircraft involved were a C-172 and a C-182 both outbound from Gillespie enroute to Brown field.
Can't seem to locate anybody that has any tail numbers, but I know Golden State Flying club has a large presence at Gillespie along with several smaller clubs.
I did nearly all of my training between Gillespie and Montgomery and am very familiar with this area as well. A very sad day in San Diego. Many condolences to all involved.
Sesd97 From United States, joined Aug 2004, 113 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 990 times:
I live literally 5 minutes from Griffin Park, and to see this happen in my "backyard" so to speak is quite a shock. I see literally 100's of Cessna's every week fly over my home on the westbound course out of Gillespie Field, and you just think it can never happen to someone you know. I won't take this for granted anymore.
I know many of the pilots at KSEE, so this is truly a shock to this fantastic flying community out at Gillespie. I can only wish my heartfelt condolences to the family's of the pilots and passengers lost in this very unfortunate event.
LTBEWR From United States, joined Jan 2004, 8521 posts, RR: 16 Reply 11, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 780 times:
Shades of the PSA mid-air disaster of over 20 years ago. Then, a PSA (727?) shortly after takeoff from Lindberg field in San Diego crashed mid-air with a small GA. That accident forced changes in the visual flight rules in some areas of the USA. Let us hope the investigation leads to the cause of this accident.
PanAm747 From United States, joined Feb 2004, 4026 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 725 times:
PSA flight #182 was routed Sacramento (SMF) - Los Angeles (LAX) - San Diego (SAN). Flights inbound to SAN from the north cross over from the Pacific ocean to land at approximately La Jolla, proceed over the Mission Bay VORTAC signal (just east of Sea World), proceed east over Mission Valley, then make a U-turn to the right when given clearance by San Diego ATC.
Early in the morning, when few flights are inbound, the distance required to fly east is very limited. Later in the day, some flights need to go 30 miles east before swinging around, due to other inbound traffic.
The PSA plane did not have any other commercial traffic to worry about. However, it encroached on the airspace of general aviation airport Montgomery Field, about 10 miles North - Northeast of Lindbergh Field. PSA 182 descended below the minimum height and collided with the small plane, the right wing striking the back of the small plane, shredding it, and damaging the wing to the extent that the 727 lost control.
One of the recommendations given was that all planes heading EAST (away from the airport) that are getting ready to land at SAN must maintain a minimum height of 5,000 feet before making the turn to line up with runway 27. Had that been the case on September 25, 1978, the accident never would have happened.
Today if you are in Mission Valley, you will see many planes heading east at a high altitude. In North Park, I can see them to the north (no pun intended) entering the landing "cycle", and to the south I see them descending on final approach. I always am reminded of the one that didn't make it, even after all these many years.
Pan Am:The World's Most Experienced Airline - P(oor) S(ailor's) A(irline): San Diego's Hometown Airline-Catch Our Smile!
AJL From United Kingdom (Scotland), joined Feb 2006, 2 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 662 times:
I am a student at Scandinavian Aviation Academy, the cessna 172 RG was N9531B (I took the only picture on A.net of this aircraft back in 2004 when I flew in San Diego).
This is very sad day for aviation, my thoughts goes out to the families !
Does anybody know anyting about the other cessna N759KE ?
Tom in NO From United States, joined Nov 1999, 7194 posts, RR: 55 Reply 15, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 610 times:
Quoting PanAm747 (Reply 13): However, it encroached on the airspace of general aviation airport Montgomery Field, about 10 miles North - Northeast of Lindbergh Field. PSA 182 descended below the minimum height...
The on-duty controllers stated that 182 was on the Lindbergh side of the Lindbergh/Montgomery airport traffic area demarcation line, as drawn from the Mission Bay VOR, so they were not concerned about that line with regards to 182, other than to point out the conflicting C-172, which was climibing out from Lindbergh after performing a couple of touch-and-go's. Hence the note in the NTSB's final report laying contributing fault with the San Diego air traffic procedures.
The Southwest pilot who regularly contributes his excellent trip reports is quick to note the steepness of the descent into Lindbergh that is required when arriving from over Mission Bay.
Tom at MSY
"The criminal ineptitude makes you furious"-Bruce Springsteen, after seeing firsthand the damage from Hurricane Katrina
Sean-SAN- From United States, joined Aug 2002, 612 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 539 times:
I used to work at Scandinavian in 2003 and I've flown in the 172 (RG model) a few times. The flight school is based in Montgomery.
Just a note about the area over La Mesa, as I also did my training there... it's an EXTREMELY high traffic area (mostly GA planes, not from SAN). You have traffic departing Gilespie, heading right into the final approach path to Montgomery, plus traffic also tends to merge there with people coming from Brown and Ramona airports. Think of it as four highways merging onto the same lane at the same time, and half of those drivers are student drivers.
Sadly it was bound to happen, and I'm sure it'll happen again.
PSAjet17 From United States, joined Dec 2003, 179 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 466 times:
The C-182Q's registration was N759KE. Still have not seen the 172's.
In regards to the mentioned accident of PSA182 in September 1978, the 727 did not encrouch the MYF airspace. San Diego approach made two traffic calls to the PSA flight, which the crew responded with "traffic in sight" (the Cessna student pilot was practicing ILS approaches and in 1978, the only ILS around the San Diego area was the ILS-9 to SAN). PSA182 was cleared for a visual approach and told to maintain visual seperation from the C172. They tuned into SAN tower and were "cleared to land"who also called the Cessna traffic to the PSA crew PSA182 said they had the aircraft in sight when in reality they had lost sight of the Cessna with the someone in the cockpit saying, "Oh yeah, before we turned downwind, I saw him about one o'clock, probably behind us now". Seconds later was the impact.
1011 From United States, joined Feb 2001, 287 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 285 times:
That area is extremely busy. I've had a few close calls in that same area. That area is the extended final for 28L and R at MYF. Many planes comes off the left crosswind from SEE. Many planes head down to Brown. This is all in the area in between and under the Class B airspace of SAN and Miramar. Like I said VERY busy. It is also near a major airway V66.
I think all planes should have some form of TCAS and Mode S transponder. An extra pair of eyes always helps.
The day of the crash was awesome. Seemed like 50 mile visibility with no ceiling. But the sun was setting though so that could have been a factor.
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