Bakersfield - Palo Alto

On October 19, 1979 at 11:16 PM, Bakersfield - Palo Alto experienced a crash involving Swearingen SA26T Merlin II, operated by Valley Equity Management Group, with the event recorded near Palo Alto California.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 66.7%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is other causes. On final approach to Palo Alto Airport by night, during the last segment, the twin engine airplane collided with a flock of seagulls, causing the left engine to fail. The airplane lost height and struck the runway surface. It bounced then went out of control, veered off runway and eventually crashed inverted in the airport parking, damaging seven other aircrafts. The pilot was seriously injured and both passengers were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N65103, MSN T26-140E, year of manufacture 1969.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 37.4443°, -122.1598°.