[A CA Guy]

I thought I heard the plane crashed right after take off. Maybe I heard wrong.

There was a plane for a local radio station that years ago was taking off from Fullerton airport that lost power and crashed into the street to avoid killing people.

There was another in CA in Cerritos that lost power, knew they were going down and the pilot crashed in a little traffic circle nose first that was the only place without cars or people.

I found those two brave ways to die as well.

Taking off and landing I hear are the most dangerous times in flying, but I think all the time is dangerous with small noncommercial planes.

God Bless those folks though.

[La Enchiladita]

See post 21. Sorry if my post 16 was confusing...

I used to live in Santa Monica. Now, I live east of the airport. I see the small planes all the time; it's just part of life. But sometimes I worry about one that may be wobbling or uncertain; probably flying lessons...

[BurbankKarl]

I got the impression he was trying to make it back to the airport based on his report to the tower. Of course, some of the traffic helicopter pilots were chiming in on the air saying he should have focussed more on getting the plane down gently, than trying to get back to Santa Monica.

I am sure he was trying the best he could to get to shallow water....but if you lose your only engine, at that low altitude, your options seem very limited.