July 8, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Feds Interview Santa Monica Plane Crash Pilot In Hospital:

The student pilot of the single-engine Cessna 172 that crashed four minutes after taking off at Santa Monica Airport on Monday was alert and responsive enough after surgery to answer questions from federal investigators on Tuesday.

Wayne Pollack, a National Transportation Safety Board senior investigator, told The Mirror a preliminary report would be released late next week, but the final report determining the cause may take until next year to complete.

The plane, manufactured in 1973, went down at 2:29 p.m. Monday into a home at 21st and Navy. Pollack said the plane’s takeoff at the runway was at about 2:25 p.m.

The pilot, whose name and age has not been released, was pulled from the wreck by two workers who were painting the single-story home he crashed into. The pilot was rushed to hospital with a suspected broken leg and underwent surgery Monday night.

One of the painters was decontaminated at the scene by firefighters after he was exposed to aviation fuel; the other painter was taken to hospital for injuries caused from flying debris.

Pollack, who is being assisted by Federal Aviation Administration investigators, said he could not comment on the pilot’s surgery, but said he was “alert and responsive” and was able to answer questions from investigators in hospital on Tuesday.

“He had just come out of surgery,” Pollack told The Mirror. “He appeared to be doing very well in order to be able to speak with us. As far as the conversation goes, we reviewed the standard things that we review with all pilots that have an accident. We look into and ask questions about their flight training, background, currency, purpose of the flight, the training he had received from his flight instructor.”

Pollack said it was a requirement for student pilots to fly solo as part of their training.

“A student pilot learns to fly through a combination through dual flight instruction with a flight instructor on-board and by himself,” Pollack said. “This student pilot was in the cross-country phase and that was the purpose of the flight. He was going on a solo instruction cross-country to Santa Barbara.”

On Wednesday, Pollack said the aircraft wreck was examined at an undisclosed “privately owned facility in Southern California.” He said the plane’s airframe, flight control surfaces and engine were examined.

On Tuesday, maintenance records of the aircraft were examined, but will continue to be analyzed, Pollack said.

“We’ve made a preliminary review of the records, and the operator of the aircraft has been fully supportive and is totally cooperating with the NTSB with respect to the production of the documents that we’ve asked for,” he said.

Pollack said all air traffic controllers working in the tower at Santa Monica Airport at the time of the incident would soon be interviewed. He said he had analyzed the voice recordings between the control tower personnel and the pilot.

“Those communications revealed that the pilot was in an emergency condition in that he requested to stay in the traffic pattern and land the airplane,” Pollack said. “The air traffic controllers did clear the aircraft to land. During that landing attempt, the aircraft was not successful in landing in the normal area of the runway. The FAA controllers issued a go-around instruction to the pilot. The pilot told us he was attempting to adhere to that air traffic control direction when the aircraft impacted the ground.”

Residents have complained for years about the potential for a jet to overshoot the runway and crash into homes. The nearest homes are within 300 feet of the runway’s end.

Santa Monica Airport Director Robert Trimborn said the airport was maintained in the safest possible manner.

“The accident occurred, it’s very unfortunate, and thank god that the pilot lived and no-one on the ground was injured,” Trimborn said. “We are a public use facility just like a street or a highway, and accidents occur in any transportation system. Accidents do occur, and there is no transportation system from walking to space shuttles that’s immune to it.”

Prior to Monday’s accident, a Santa Monica City Council special meeting had already been scheduled for Oct. 4 to discuss the future of Santa Monica Airport.

The current 20-year agreement between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Santa Monica City Council expires on June 30, 2015.

“It will be the City Council’s decision in 2015 or prior to that to what they want to do with the airport,” Trimborn said. “And that’s why we’ve started this visioning process to help them with that decision.”

Follow The Mirror on Twitter: twitter.com/SMMirror

Follow The Mirror on Facebook: twitter.com/SMMirror

in News
<>Related Posts

Anti-Drunk Driving Resolution Introduced as City Council Honors Late Palisades Teen Killed in Crash

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Levi, who was set to attend the University of Virginia this fall, was killed by a drunk driver on May...

Free and Reduced Price School Meals Available for Eligible Families in Santa Monica-Malibu District

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Parents in Need Encouraged to Apply, SMMUSD Commits to Nutritious, Accessible Meals By Brandyi Phillips, SMMUSD Chief Communications Officer Santa...

Big Blue Bus to Raise Fares for First Time in Nearly a Decade

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

The fare increase aims to offset rising costs for fuel, utilities, and supplies, according to the agency. The Santa Monica...

Shore Hotel: A Local Destination for Summer Fun

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bring on all things summer. Walking or biking along Santa Monica Pier, you might find yourself taking a pause at...

Santa Monica’s 150th Anniversary to be Celebrated with Vibrant State of the City Event

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, beach chairs, and picnics to enjoy during the performances Santa Monica will mark its...

Soprano Golda Zahra Returns to BroadStage For a One-Night-Only Musical Celebration

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Hailed as “the rising star of the opera world” by The Hollywood Times, internationally acclaimed soprano Golda Zahra makes her much-anticipated return to BroadStage in...

(Video) Hundreds of Drones Light up the Sky for Palisades to Celebrate July 4th

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The Event Marked One of the First Large Gatherings Among Palisadians Since the January Wildfires. The Event Marked One of...

Transform Your Life: The Free Virtual ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT Debuts July 18-20, 2025

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT, a transformative three-day virtual event, is coming, July 18-20, 2025, offering participants worldwide a free opportunity...

Santa Monica Home Defies Convention: Architect Eric Owen Moss Debuts Shape-Shifting Design

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Pistachio-Colored Marvel Boasts Curving Walls, Sharp Angles, and Challenging Design A striking residence in Santa Monica is turning heads with...

Caitlyn Jenner’s Friend and Former Foundation CEO Dies in Malibu ATV Crash

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

ATV Plummeted 350 Feet After Rear-Ending Vehicle in Malibu Sophia Hutchins, former CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation and longtime...

New SaMo Bridge Program Refers 56 People in First Month; 37 Connected to Services

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

According to city officials, the program is on pace to meet its goal of serving 260 individuals annually Santa Monica’s...

Multi-Family Venice Property on Rare Double Lot Lists at Over $5M

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

In total, the four units provide 5,398 square feet of living space A multi-family property located one block from Venice...

Hama Sushi Hosts Weekly Music and Comedy Open Mics

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The venue, a Venice Beach staple since 1979, has recently expanded its legendary happy hour to the entire patio Hama...

Connections Breakfast to Network Local Business Professionals in Malibu

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The event, sponsored by Malibu Country Mart, will feature a breakfast mixer where attendees can meet new contacts  A Connections...

12th Annual Gopher Scramble Golf Tournament to Benefit Venice Heritage Museum

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The museum opened to the public in March 2024 at the Main Street Design Center with its inaugural exhibition, “This...