Overview
- The Piper PA-28 lost engine power about 1,000 feet into the flight and the pilot declared a mayday before steering the plane onto the sand.
- The aircraft touched down and rolled roughly 100 feet on Huntington State Beach with no injuries to the pilot, his 16-year-old nephew, or beachgoers.
- The landing took place on a crowded shore during the U.S. Open of Surfing and happened within minutes of takeoff from John Wayne Airport on Monday, increasing potential public‑safety exposure.
- California State Parks, the FAA and the NTSB have opened coordinated inquiries and the beach area around the plane remains partially closed while investigators secure the site.
- The plane is registered to the nonprofit Elder Abuse Air Force run by the pilot, video of the landing circulated widely on social media, and investigators are expected to examine maintenance records, engine components and pilot actions over the coming weeks.