Plane Was Among Five Making Lunch Run

Two victims of a fatal CFIT accident this weekend have been tentatively identified as members of a Southern California flying club, though authorities have declined to release names at this time.

Citing reports from the Inland Daily Bulletin, MSNBC reports the couple took off in their Piper PA-28-236 Dakota from Brackett Field (POC) near La Verne at approximately 11:10 am Saturday. The plane was part of a flight of five heading to Lake Mojave for lunch.

Pilot Garry Wilt, who is also a member of the Skylarks Club based in Fullerton, was in trail of the accident plane when it impacted a Pomona hillside shortly after takeoff. He said the POC tower attempted to contact the pilots, and others on frequency tried to warn the couple "Pull up, terrain, level your wings."

"They were two confident pilots," Wilt said. "Something went wrong here."

A witness on the ground told the Daily Bulletin he heard "two loud noises, like two backfires" just before the plane impacted terrain.

"We came out," said Eddie Garcia, who works near the area. "We saw dust coming off where the plane made an impact, and we also saw pieces falling down like paper." Officials said the plane "completely disintegrated" on impact.

FAA records show the accident aircraft is registered to a San Dimas-based business. The NTSB and FAA are investigating.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov