5) BUZZING / ACRO, C-FIT

Sling LSA | N166TW

April 9th, 2026 | Avalon, California

Accident Location

  • City: Avalon
  • State: California
  • Latitude: 33.322789
  • Longitude: -118.35079
  • Airport ID:

Aircraft Info

  • N Number: N166TW
  • Make: Sling
  • Model: LSA
  • Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
  • Amateur Built: Yes

Pilot Info

  • PIC Name: Cox, Robert Kenneth, Jr.
  • Gender: Male
  • Pilot Age: 54
  • Pilot Hours: 6000
  • Flight School: No
  • Instructional Flight: No
  • Pilot Certification: Commercial Pilot
  • IFR Rating: Yes
  • Pilot Error: Yes
  • Pilot Medical: 2nd Class Medical
  • Pilot Incapacitation: No

Analysis

  • Date: April 9th, 2026
  • Time: 12:20 PM Local Time
  • Day / Night: Day
  • VMC / IMC: VMC
  • Phase Of Flight: Maneuvering
  • Total People Onboard: 2
  • PIC Fatality: 1
  • PAX Fatalities: 1
  • Ground Fatalities: 0
  • Total Fatalities: 2
  • NTSB No: ANC26FA024
  • NTSB Travel: Yes
  • AQP Classification: 5) BUZZING / ACRO, C-FIT

Probable Cause

DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the accident pilot, Robert Cox, was observed in the same accident aircraft flying very low and very aggressively, just minutes before the accident, and did stall the aircraft during the maneuvering at an altitude too low to recover from. The other occupant was Daniel Sarner, aged 51, a commercial pilot. Repeated trips between the two individuals’ airports, KCRQ (Cox) and KTOA (Sarner) are documented. Numerous very low level flight and low level maneuvering, as well as low level trips in the terrain of Catalina Island are in the recent flight history, apparently replicating the low level marine style helicopter operations familiar to Cox from marine helicopter combat missions.

NTSB: NONE

Recommendation

DTSB: The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves to avoid “Flying Cowboy” style low level aggressive Buzzing/ Acro maneuvering thrill type flight operations.

NTSB: NONE

DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.