2 dead after 2 small planes collide in midair near Malibu

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — A second body has been found in the wreckage of one of two small planes that collided over the Santa Monica Mountains on Monday.

It was initially reported that only the pilot of one of the planes was killed.

But on Tuesday morning, L.A. County Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore confirmed that two bodies were found in the wreckage of that plane.

According to Whitmore, the collision sent the plane plummeting directly into the side of the mountain.

The other aircraft, which had three people aboard, made an emergency landing at the Westlake Village Golf Course.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators were at the scene Tuesday trying to piece together what happened.

Both planes were Cessna single-engine aircraft which departed from Santa Monica Airport, according to preliminary information from the FAA.

The body of the pilot of the plane that crashed in the mountains was spotted Monday evening in rugged terrain near Mulholland Highway and Las Virgenes Road, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said.

Radar information indicated the two Cessna 172s collided about eight miles east northeast of Ventura about 2 p.m., FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said in a statement.

The plane that left Santa Monica Airport was making an engine test flight and heading east when it collided with the other aircraft, according to the FAA.

The crash sparked a fire that was quickly knocked down after burning about an acre of dry brush, officials said.

The other Cessna ended up in the middle of the third fairway at Westlake Village Golf Course.

The hard landing resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to the three people on board, L.A. County sheriff’s officials said.

County fire officials and witnesses said the landing gear was still up when the plane came down.

One of the people aboard complained of back pain and was taken to a hospital, according to authorities.

Golfer Aaron Jesse, 47, said the plane came in silently and hit the ground with a thud.

Jesse said the plane clipped a tree, which spun the aircraft around 180 degrees. Jesse marveled that the pilot seemed to land gently — taking out only four inches of grass and dirt.

Aviation Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability

A plane crash is one of the most devastating accidents that can occur. Usually in an airplane crash (small planes, helicopters, commercial airliners, hot air balloons etc.) all passengers and crew members are killed.

At the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler, we are experienced in aviation law with a reputation of success in aircraft accident cases. We have the knowledge and experience to identify those responsible in the airplane crash (i.e. pilot error, mechanical failure of the sircraft and/or its component parts).

If you are considering filing a claim against an airline or helicopter tour company, small aircraft company, commercial airline or a “hot air balloon company” to recover damages suffered by you or your family, seek advice from a lawyer such as Gary A Kessler who, has experience in “aviation law.”

With an array of engines, aviation professionals and pilot witnesses we consult with nationally recognized experts in order to isolate the causes that led to the aviation death(s).  Our office has 20 years of litigation experience providing a level of expertise unparalleled in the preparation and presentation of our client’s case.  By using multi-media technology, Gary A. Kessler presents video and PowerPoint presentations that clarify the complex issues of liability so that jurors, judges and mediators can understand.

In cases involving commercial airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be involved.  Our office knows how to professionally interact with these federal agencies and get the answers to our client’s case.

In most states, if the death of a relative or spouse was caused by an air crash, surviving family members can file a wrongful death/aviation lawsuit against the responsible parties.  In order to file a wrongful death/aviation law claim, you must be able to prove that you will experience future emotional and financial hardship because of the loss of a relative, family member or spouse.

Demand accountability from those responsible for the aviation (airplane, helicopter, hot air balloon rides, etc.) accidents.  Many times the insurance companies will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex case,  We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty-five years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage.  We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial.

Aviation law cases are complex and include many facets of the law.  It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced aviation accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.

The California aviation accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one.  The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its aviation accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your aviation accident case.

It is essential to isolate the causes of an aircraft accident. The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler has the expert witness resources and investigation team necessary to uncover the causes of an aircraft accident. We are prepared to front the initial costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses. In an aviation accident case, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney’s fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorney’s fees or costs are owed to our firm, thus in all personal injury cases handled by the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler, our fees are recovered as a percentage of any settlement or verdict awarded to our clients.

 

 

 

 


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Gary Kessler, California Personal Injury Lawyer Disclaimer: The California personal injury, wrongful death, swimming pool drowning, boating accident, dog bite, amusement park negligence, pedestrian accident, product liability, aviation accidents, or any other California legal information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the creation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. The information contained herein is intended for information purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. All results described on this site were based on the individual facts of those said cases and are not indicative of future settlements. Results will differ from case to case. Please contact Gary A. Kessler, a California lawyer at our California law firm offices in Newport Beach or our San Francisco Bay Area office.

The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler are licensed to practice in California, District of Columbia & Pennsylvania. Through local law firms with which we have associations, we are able to represent Personal Injury and Wrongful Death cases across the United States. Our associations allow us to represent clients"pro hac vice", meaning "for this particular occasion". In order to effectively and efficiently represent the client in these cases, we will employ the local law firms (at no additional cost to our client) to make routine court appearances and proceedings where it is necessary to assist our clients case.