Two Fatalities in Catalina Island Plane Crash

The recent crash of a small plane on Catalina Island has tragically claimed the lives of two individuals. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Daniel Sarner, 51, and Robert Cox, 54. They both perished on Thursday when their two-seater aircraft went down in a less accessible area of the island, situated off the coast of Los Angeles.

The plane, a 2014 Solaris Aviation Sling 2, is reported to have crashed near Avalon at around 12:30 p.m. The site of the incident was a deep ravine on the southern side of the island.

Emergency responders from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the fire department arrived at the scene, but both men were pronounced dead shortly after their arrival.

Flight tracking data indicates that the plane took off from Zamperini Field in Torrance at 10:53 a.m. and was last traced near Avalon at 11:13 a.m. Reports suggest there was no indication from the pilot that they were approaching the island to land.

Interestingly, it seems the plane had a history of frequent flights prior to the accident, including trips to Catalina and San Diego counties. Both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently looking into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Though the plane is registered to a resident of Rancho Palos Verdes, it’s not yet confirmed whether the owner was among those on board at the time of the crash.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn expressed her condolences, remarking on the tragedy and extending appreciation for the efforts of the emergency personnel who responded in such a challenging location.