Pilot Ignored Night Takeoff Warning in Fatal Catalina Airport Crash

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have released new details surrounding the fatal crash of a Beech 95-B55 aircraft at Catalina Airport on October 8, 2024. The preliminary report indicates that the pilot ignored warnings not to take off after dark, a critical factor in the tragic incident.

The incident began when a flight instructor and two student pilots became stranded at Catalina Airport due to a magneto malfunction in their rental aircraft. They contacted their flight school, and another aircraft was dispatched from Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) to pick them up.

Catalina Airport, which operates from 0800 to 1700, has a single runway (4/22) but lacks runway lighting, making night operations prohibited. The airport manager granted the pilot permission to land after closing hours but emphasized the need to depart before sundown at 1831.

However, the pilots encountered additional trouble when the right engine failed to restart due to insufficient battery power. Despite attempts to recharge the battery, the airport manager warned that departing after sunset would be unapproved, though he could not prevent them from taking off. The aircraft took off at around 2004 from Runway 22 in dark conditions.

Security video footage and ADS-B data showed the plane descending shortly after takeoff, maintaining a low altitude until it reached the departure end of the runway. The data ended about 0.6 miles west of the runway at an elevation of approximately 1,230 feet. The wreckage was found about 450 feet further down a ravine, with the landing gear extended.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the NTSB.