What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 11, 2020, at 1501 pacific daylight time (PDT), a Navion B aircraft, N37C, impacted a parking lot within the city of Van Nuys, California. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and fire. The aircraft was operating under title 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91 as a personal flight, under visual flight rules (VFR) from Van Nuys airport (kvny), Van Nuys, California to santa ynez airport (kiza), santa ynez, California.
ATC data shows that the aircraft departed kvny runway 16R, reached an unverified altitude, prior to turning right crosswind and rapidly descending. The aircraft impacted a parking lot located near 7011 hayvenhurst ave, Van Nuys, California 91406. The parking lot and three vehicles were damaged from the collision and subsequent fire; there were no other injuries.
Indications from the wreckage (e.g., position and spread) indicate that the aircraft collided nearly perpendicular to the ground with a high vertical descent rate.
Three witness state that they heard a ?pop? And saw the aircraft bank ?hard to the right? Prior to descent.
Weather observations from Van Nuys airport indicated smoke and haze at the time of departure.
There are no indications that the pilot made or attempted to declare an emergency to ATC.
This document may be amended as the investigation progresses.
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2020, AT 1501 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME (PDT), A NAVION B AIRCRAFT, N37C, IMPACTED A PARKING LOT WITHIN THE CITY OF VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING UNDER TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT, UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) FROM VAN NUYS AIRPORT (KVNY), VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA TO SANTA YNEZ AIRPORT (KIZA), SANTA YNEZ, CALIFORNIA.
ATC DATA SHOWS THAT THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED KVNY RUNWAY 16R, REACHED AN UNVERIFIED ALTITUDE, PRIOR TO TURNING RIGHT CROSSWIND AND RAPIDLY DESCENDING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A PARKING LOT LOCATED NEAR 7011 HAYVENHURST AVE, VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA 91406. THE PARKING LOT AND THREE VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED FROM THE COLLISION AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE; THERE WERE NO OTHER INJURIES.
INDICATIONS FROM THE WRECKAGE (E.G., POSITION AND SPREAD) INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED NEARLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND WITH A HIGH VERTICAL DESCENT RATE.
THREE WITNESS STATE THAT THEY HEARD A ?POP? AND SAW THE AIRCRAFT BANK ?HARD TO THE RIGHT? PRIOR TO DESCENT.
WEATHER OBSERVATIONS FROM VAN NUYS AIRPORT INDICATED SMOKE AND HAZE AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE.
THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE PILOT MADE OR ATTEMPTED TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY TO ATC.
THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE AMENDED AS THE INVESTIGATION PROGRESSES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.