The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its preliminary report about the deadly single-engine plane crash that occurred on Santa Catalina Island in Orange County, California last week. The fatal aviation killed everyone onboard. The victims are pilot Mark Hogland, who is from Dana Point and owned the SkyBlue USA air-touring company, and passengers Marshall Goldberg and Amy Marie Judd. Orange County officials say the two passengers had hired the air-touring company to take them to Catalina and the deadly aviation accident happened upon their return to the John Wayne Airport.
According to data recorder information, the small plane left Catalina's Airport in the Sky and had risen to about 800 feet when it suddenly fell over 200 feet before crashing in a mountainous area and catching fire. No one reported the aircraft accident, which occurred around 4:30 in the afternoon until Hogland's fiancé contacted authorities at around 10:30pm to report that his plane was missing. Orange County and Los Angeles officials and the Coast Guard searched the waters around Catalina overnight by air and sea. The plane wreckage was found the next day.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB will keep investigating the plane crash to determine what caused it. FAA records indicate that Hogland had his certification as a private pilot but it is unclear whether he had a commercial license, which he would have needed if he wanted to fly for hire.
Some 20 people have died in 8 plane accidents while either leaving or arriving at Airport in the Sky over the last 10 years. In October 2008, an elderly couple and a friend of theirs died when the plane they were in crashed as it was leaving the island's airport.
Aviation Accidents
Plane crashes usually result in catastrophic injuries and deaths. Common causes of plane crashes include:
• Defective equipment
• Pilot error
• Flight crew mistakes
• Defectively designed aircraft
• FAA violations
• NTSB regulation violations
• Federal Air Traffic Controller negligence
• Faulty maintenance
Report: Plane climbed to 800 feet before crashing on Catalina, OC Register, February 12, 2009
Three killed in Catalina plane crash, Los Angeles Times, February 6, 2009
Family ID's Victims in Catalina Plane Crash, KTLA.com, October 28, 2008
Related Web Resources:
National Transportation Safety Board
Federal Aviation Administration
