Bombardier Inc., Canadair CL-215-6B11 and Unknown Unknown mid-air collision near Los Angeles, California, January 9, 2025
On January 9, 2025 at about 8:38 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Bombardier Inc., Canadair CL-215-6B11 (CGQBE) and Unknown Unknown (UNKNOWN), were involved in a mid-air collision near Los Angeles, California (Van Nuys airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB did not determine the probable cause of this event and does not plan to issue a report or open a public docket. The investigation of this event is being conducted under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The NTSB did not determine the probable cause of this event and does not plan to issue a report or open a public docket. The investigation of this event is being conducted under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 2025 · about 8:38 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · Van Nuys · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Incident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Bombardier Inc., Canadair CL-215-6B11 CL-415, built 1994
- Registration
- CGQBE · registered outside the United States · serial 2017
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Firefighting flight · public-use (government) rules
- Aircraft 2
- Unknown Unknown
- Registration
- UNKNOWN · registered outside the United States · serial Unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative for the Bombardier Inc., Canadair CL-215-6B11 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The investigation of this event is being conducted under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The NTSB does not plan to issue a report or open a public docket.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Unknown Unknown final · quoted from the NTSB record
The investigation of this event is being conducted under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The NTSB does not plan to issue a report or open a public docket.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Bombardier Inc., Canadair CL-215-6B11 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Security/criminal event defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Other authority investigated
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,865 hours in all; 893 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 4,531 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 29, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,303 hours in all; 9 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 9,984 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 31, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,688.1 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 12, 2024; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 47,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW123-AF (turboprop); 4,579 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW123-AF (turboprop); 4,793 hours total
The flight
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from KVNY
Weather report (METAR): KVNY 091951Z 20004KT 5SM HZ FU CLR 21/M12 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP186 T02061117
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Unknown Unknown from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Other authority investigated
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PW123-AF 13 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PW123-AF 13 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Van Nuys Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,279 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR25LA077.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.