Student Pilot was in Third Solo Flight During Fatal Crash

Fatal plane crash in Orcutt elementary school playground (Photo: Mike Eliason / SBCFD)

By edhat staff

A student pilot from Burbank was in his third solo-flight when the plane descended like a corkscrew and crashed near Orcutt last week.

The airplane caught fire after crashing into the basketball courts of Ralph Dunlap Elementary School. The pilot, 38-year-old Tigran Garabedyan, was killed instantly. The school has been closed to the COVID-19 pandemic and children were not present.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently released its preliminary report of the fatal accident stating on May 20, around 10:43 a.m., the Cirrus SR20 airplane was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo cross country flight.

A witness reported that the airplane was flying lower than normal and it appeared to oscillate, followed by an engine power increased, and then the airplane straightened out. Shortly thereafter, the power decreased, and it started to oscillate as it went out of view. Another witness observed the airplane with its wings perpendicular to the ground as it descended out of view. And a third witness said his attention was drawn to the airplane when he heard a "loud hissing sound," which sounded like a "large bottle rocket." He looked up and saw the airplane abruptly turn left and descend like a corkscrew, according to the report.

Garabedyan's flight instructor reported that he has been in flight training since September 2019, and had accumulated about 50 flight hours. The accident flight was the his third solo flight, and second cross country. They had flown the same route as the accident flight at least twice together, and Garabedyan flew it once on his own about one week prior to the accident.

Garabedyan practiced as an emergency medicine physician in Southern California and was known as a humanitarian and entrepreneur, according to his obituary.

"Your legacy will live on for eternity, the whole world will remember a hero, an exceptional doctor, an ideal son, an amazing brother, a perfect family man, a loving husband, a loyal friend and most of all, the world's greatest dad, that has ever graced this Earth," his wife Sonia wrote.

The NTSB reports the airplane has been recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Related Articles

 May 21, 2020: Pilot Identity Revealed in Fatal Plane Crash

 May 20, 2020: Fatal Plane Crash Near Orcutt