4 dead following midair collision of a twin-engine Sabreliner jet and a single-engine Cessna 172 planes in San Diego County, CA

A typical Cessna 172 Skyhawk

A typical Sabreliner Jet

Emergency personnel are shown at the scene of a plane crash in San Diego County on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015. (twitter.com/SDFD) 






Aug. 16, 2015: Emergency personnel respond after two small planes collided and crashed near an airport in southern San Diego County, Calif. (John Gastaldo/U-T San Diego via AP) 

At least 5 killed after two small planes collide over southern California

Published August 17, 2015
FoxNews.com
 
Authorities said five people were killed Sunday when two small planes collided in midair while approaching an airport in southern San Diego County, Calif., sparking brush fires in a remote field where the wreckage landed.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator Andrew Swick told NBC San Diego that four people were on board a twin-engine Sabreliner jet that collided with a single-engine Cessna 172.

The Sabreliner had been leased by military contractor BAE Systems, which issued a statement confirming its employees were on board the aircraft. The pilot of the Cessna was also killed. Swick said the Cessna pilot had been taking a cross-country trip.

The collision occurred around 11 a.m. local time about 2 miles northeast of Brown Field Municipal Airport, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Ian Gregor said. The airfield, a former Naval auxiliary air station, is located 13 miles southeast of downtown San Diego, near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The aircraft caught fire when they hit the ground and broke apart, said Nick Schuler, a division chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesman Lee Swanson told the San Diego Union-Tribune that two small grass fires were ignited by the crash debris, but were extinguished within the hour. No homes were damaged, but fire officials told the Union-Tribune that about two acres burned near where the Cessna crashed.

"It appears it was a very violent crash, as you can tell by both aircraft being in multiple pieces," Schuler said. "Witnesses reported hearing the midair collision. They reported hearing the aircraft hit the ground. And we had numerous reports that there was fire in the area," said Cal Fire Division Chief Nick Schuler.

The Sabreliner crashed on a grassy slope and the Cessna fell within the bounds of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital after he suffered a heat-related injury, Schuler said. Temperatures in the area approached 100 degrees at the time of the fires.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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AUGUST 16, 2015

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Two small planes collided midair while approaching an airport in southern San Diego County on Sunday, killing at least four people and sparking brush fires in a remote field where the wreckage landed, authorities said.

The collision occurred around 11 a.m. about 2 miles northeast of Brown Field Municipal Airport, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.

Both planes - a twin-engine Sabreliner jet and a single-engine Cessna 172 - were approaching Brown Field, Gregor said.

The aircraft caught fire when they hit the ground and broke apart, said Nick Schuler, a division chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

"It appears it was a very violent crash, as you can tell by both aircraft being in multiple pieces," Schuler said.

First responders initially reported three fatalities, but as they inspected the wreckage which was strewn across a quarter-mile area, they determined that at least four people were killed, he said.

The Sabreliner crashed on a grassy slope and the Cessna fell within the bounds of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge.

Crews extinguished several brush fires where the planes came down. One firefighter was taken to the hospital after he suffered a heat-related injury, Schuler said.

Brown Field, a former Naval auxiliary air station, is in the Otay Mesa area about 15 miles southeast of downtown San Diego, near the border with Mexico.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, Gregor said.

Date:	16-AUG-2015
Time:	11:04 a.m.
Type:	Cessna 172 Skyhawk
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:
C/n / msn:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	3
Airplane damage:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Brown Field Municipal Airport (KSDM), San Diego, CA -   United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:
Destination airport:	Brown Field Muni (KSDM)

Narrative:
The plane crashed and was destroyed by fire in Otay Mesa northeast of Brown Field Municipal Airport (KSDM), San Diego, California, following a midair collision with a Saberliner. Four reported fatalities.
 

Sources: 
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=178741 www.10news.com/news/police-say-airplane-on-fire-near-harvest-road-081615
http://www.cbs8.com/story/29798191/two-small-planes-crash-midair-in-otay-mesa
http://abc7.com/news/3-dead-following-midair-collision-of-small-planes-in-san-diego-county/935907/
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-small-planes-collide-20150816-story.html
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/aug/16/plane-crash-brown-field-fatal/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Sabreliner



The Cessna 172 is the most successful light aircraft ever built. More 172’s have been produced than any other aircraft, over 42,500 to be exact. Primarily used for training, the Cessna 172 has become a common name among pilots and non-pilots alike. 


Cessna Introduced the 172 in 1956 featuring a Continental 0-300 with 145 horse power. With a starting price of 8,995 dollars what’s not to like?


Since those days the 172 has greatly changed, now with over 21 variations of the famous 1956 version.

A Cessna 172 is a fine purchase for just about any general aviation pilot, as they are relatively easy to insure and inexpensive to operate.


However since the 172 was used primarily as a trainer it is important to factor this into your search.