# Accident 20260409006909A: Airplane Factory (Pty) Ltd The SLING, Avalon, CA, April 9, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 9, 2026, 14:22 local time
- Place: Avalon, CA
- Airport: Catalina
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3228° N, 118.3508° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3228&lon=-118.3508&mi=10
- Aircraft: N166TW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N166TW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Airplane Factory Ltd The SLING (registry code 060009A, https://openairdocs.org/model/airplane-factory-ltd-the-sling) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRPLANE FACTORY (PTY) LTD THE SLING
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC26FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26FA024) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260409006909A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NOTIFIED OF ACCIDENT ON 04/09/2026 AT APPROXIMATELY 1430 LOCAL TIME.  ON 04/10/2026 THE FAA, NTSB, AND CORONERS DEPARTED LONG BEACH AIRPORT (KLGB) AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 AM VIA LA SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HELICOPTER AND ARRIVED ON SCENE AT APPROXIMATLEY 1035.  THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS NOT THE SAME AS THE INITIAL ADS-B REPORT.  WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON SITE UPON ARRIVAL DUE TO CLOUD LAYER BUT LANDED OFF SITE AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE.  ONCE AT THE SITE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NTSB, CATALINA SEARCH AND RESCUE, TWO CORONERS AND LA SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WOULD GO DOWN TO THE SITE WHICH WAS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF A CANYON.  THE FAA WOULD SUPPORT FROM THE TOP OF THE RIDGE.  FROM THE TOP OF THE RIDGE PICTURES WERE TAKEN OF THE WRECKAGE.  THE BODIES WERE REMOVED FROM THE WRECKAGE, AND THE TEAM FLEW BACK TO KLGB.  ONCE WE UNLOADED FORM THE HELICOPTER WE DEBRIEFED AND BEGAN CATALOGING AND WEIGHING PERSONAL ITEMS RECOVERED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE CONTENTS WEIGHED APPROXIMATELY 46 LBS.

ATTENDED WRECKAGE INVESTIGATION OF N166TW ON 05/20/2026 IN PHEONIX ARIZONA.  TOOK 360-DEGREE PHOTOS, CONFIRMED FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY THOUGH FLIGHT CONTROL CABLES AND TORQUE TUBES.  AS WELL AS ENGINE COMPRESSION CONTINUITY.  OBSERVED ENGINE RUN.  ENGINE RAN WITH OUT ISSUE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC26FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26FA024), Apr 9, 2026: Airplane Factory Ltd The Sling (N166TW), Avalon, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal, investigation ongoing

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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