The rugged interior of Catalina Island turned into the scene of a deadly aviation accident on the afternoon of April 9, 2026. A small, two-seat aircraft crashed into a steep ravine, and by the time rescuers reached the wreckage, both men on board had died.
The aircraft, a 2014 Solaris Aviation Sling 2, had departed from Zamperini Field in Torrance at approximately 10:53 a.m. Flight tracking data indicates the plane was last visible on radar near the island’s main town of Avalon roughly twenty minutes later, at 11:13 a.m.
Shortly after noon, at around 12:30 p.m., the plane came down on the south side of the island, crashing into a remote ravine south of the botanical gardens. The location was so rugged and inaccessible that it significantly hampered the emergency response from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and fire crews.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has since identified the victims as Daniel Sarner, 51, and Robert Cox, 54. Officials have not yet determined which of the two men was at the controls when the plane went down.
Investigators are piecing together the aircraft’s final moments. Notably, authorities revealed that the pilot gave no indication of an intent to land at the Catalina Airport (also known as the “Airport in the Sky”) before the crash. The flight path, however, is under scrutiny, as data shows the plane had flown frequently in the weeks prior, including multiple trips to San Diego County and to Catalina itself.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn extended her condolences to the families, stating, “This is a tragedy and my heart goes out to the loved ones of those who lost their lives”. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched a full investigation to determine the probable cause of the crash.