Three people were killed when two planes crashed midair above the Watsonville Municipal Airport, Thursday afternoon.According to the Federal Aviation Administration, two planes were attempting to land when they collided.The FAA reported that a single-engine Cessna 152 and a twin-engine Cessna 340 collided while the pilots were on their final approaches to Watsonville Municipal Airport in Watsonville, California. One person was on board the Cessna 152 and two people were on board the Cessna 340. No injuries were reported to anyone on the ground.TimelineAudio of the planes talking before they crashed gives a timeline of events before the deadly encounter.Pilot 1: “Watsonville Area Traffic, Twin Cessna 740WJ, one mile, straight in, looking for traffic on left base.”Pilot 2: “Yeah, I see … you’re behind me.”Pilot 2: “I’m gonna go around then, because you’re coming at me pretty quick, man.”The crash 20 seconds after the final radio communication.Video: Watsonville plane crash timelineNTSB InvestigationIn a press briefing Friday afternoon the NTSB said that they would be investigating, “man, machine and environment” to figure out what caused the deadly crash.Investigators planned to interview witnesses and investigate the crash locations. The planes will be removed from the Watsonville Airport on Saturday to a secure location for further investigation.The NTSB refused to comment on who was inside the plane and where the planes were from. In addition, they refused to answer questions about the speed at which the planes were going before they crashed into each other.Watch the full NTSB briefing belowThe VictimsAs of Friday afternoon, the identity of the victims had not been released by the coroner’s office.The victims’ names will be released once families are notified of the deaths, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said.Witness describes watching planes crash into each other
Three people were killed when two planes crashed midair above the Watsonville Municipal Airport, Thursday afternoon.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, two planes were attempting to land when they collided.
The FAA reported that a single-engine Cessna 152 and a twin-engine Cessna 340 collided while the pilots were on their final approaches to Watsonville Municipal Airport in Watsonville, California. One person was on board the Cessna 152 and two people were on board the Cessna 340. No injuries were reported to anyone on the ground.
Timeline
Audio of the planes talking before they crashed gives a timeline of events before the deadly encounter.
Pilot 1: “Watsonville Area Traffic, Twin Cessna 740WJ, one mile, straight in, looking for traffic on left base.”
Pilot 2: “Yeah, I see … you’re behind me.”
Pilot 2: “I’m gonna go around then, because you’re coming at me pretty quick, man.”
The crash 20 seconds after the final radio communication.
Video: Watsonville plane crash timeline
NTSB Investigation
In a press briefing Friday afternoon the NTSB said that they would be investigating, “man, machine and environment” to figure out what caused the deadly crash.
Investigators planned to interview witnesses and investigate the crash locations. The planes will be removed from the Watsonville Airport on Saturday to a secure location for further investigation.
The NTSB refused to comment on who was inside the plane and where the planes were from. In addition, they refused to answer questions about the speed at which the planes were going before they crashed into each other.
Watch the full NTSB briefing below
The Victims
As of Friday afternoon, the identity of the victims had not been released by the coroner’s office.
The victims’ names will be released once families are notified of the deaths, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said.
Witness describes watching planes crash into each other
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