Citation crash at SMO

Very unfortunate. RIP to the people on the Citation (although apparently deaths and injuries have not been confirmed), but probably also RIP to the Santa Monica airport.

 

RIP

sad accident, obviously due to the loss of life here, but this is also one more big strike against one of the most historic airfields on the west coast.

on a personal note, I worked at the airport for about two years. had the plane hooked left instead of right, it would have hit the building I worked in. yikes.

Santa Monica Airport crash: Number of victims not yet known - latimes.com

NTSB to Begin Investigating Fiery Crash at Santa Monica Airport | KTLA 5

New Details To Be Released In Deadly Santa Monica Airport Crash « CBS Los Angeles

 

Why is it one more big strike against the airport? Does it have a history of problems? I haven't ever been to Santa Monica, so I don't know the layout or the history. Are the hangars too close to the runways or is it badly managed?

I do know many small airports are kept in operation by FAA contracts or subsidies which forbid significant changes of use or new municipal regulations which affect use; while many of these small airports were also once rural but had homeowners move into the airport zone that subsequently lobby for its shutdown as they became suburban/urban. This is a common pattern.

It appears that the FAA contract expires in 2015 and airport shutdown is "in play" politically, so the airport commissioner's comment about nearby homes might be politically motivated.

My Write: SMO airport won't fly - Santa Monica Daily PressSanta Monica Daily Press

I just did a lookup on the airport commissioners

Santa Monica Office of the City Clerk

and none show up on the FAA pilot registry.

 

chas, was your old office nearby?

 

yes, sorry should have clarified...the airport is in a very dense residential area, the NIMBY crowd has been trying to shut it down for nearly 20 years. the FAA charter renewal in 2015 is going to be hotly contested, and every aircraft incident at this field gives one more bit of ammunition for those against it.

I do not think this airfield is any more dangerous than others out there.

 

it was in a hangar adjacent to the airfield....from the front door of my office to the runway was less than 200 feet.

 

Apparently there are pictures of debris on the runway after the crash, and claims that maybe there were nails on the runway. Don't know if true, but if so, what a mess.

Art

 

I hadn't heard that. what I heard was hard landing, blown tire as a result (debris), loss of control on the ground taking out a runway marker (more debris) and impact with hangar.

 

here's an article that summarizes the airport's relationship with the surrounding neighbors:

Santa Monica jet crash revives neighborhood debate on airport - latimes.com

 

First thread...

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/aviatorchat-com/423475-flight-sun-valley-id-crashes-santa-monica.html

 

oops, sorry missed it...I'll ask for a thread merge.

 

It appears to be a CitationJet series aircraft. All of them have trailing link gear - you have to hit extremely hard to blow a good tire. But, a blown tire could certainly result in a loss of control.

 

We just got word tonight that our good friend lost a daughter who was a passenger in that crash. Not identified in the news. Bad stuff.

 

That's terrible to learn Bob.....

Sad day...

 

sorry to hear Bob

condolences to you and your friends.

 

Bob-- I'm very sorry to hear that. My condolences to your friend.

 

I flew a CJ3 into SMO about 2 months ago. It's pretty tight quarters. There is no real taxiway per se, pretty much goes from ramp to runway.

 

Thanks everyone. My wife went to school with the mother and we are close friends so we aren't in the immediate family but we are trying to figure out what to do but there is little in this case.

 

Sorry to hear about the loss of your wife's friend's daughter.

Here is some more info on the pilot.
The article implies he was an avid pilot and flew often.

LA Coroner's office IDing 4 bodies found in jet

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Just as he had so many times before, Mark Benjamin rode his small jet from a town in the Idaho wilderness he loved to the Southern California airport he knew so well.

The flight went well until, landing into the sunset, it veered off the runway and into a storage hangar.

On Tuesday, forensic specialists worked to identify the remains of four people pulled from the charred wreckage of Benjamin's Cessna 525A. Meanwhile, federal safety investigators curtailed their work due to the partial government shutdown.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office took the remains from the aircraft at Santa Monica Municipal Airport and tried to match dental X-rays with X-rays of people believed to be aboard, Lt. Fred Corral said. That process could be completed Wednesday.

Among the likely deceased were Benjamin, CEO of Morley Builders, and his son, Luke Benjamin, a senior project manager with the company. According to the company's website, past projects include Southern California landmarks such as the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, the Getty Villa art museum and parts of the Hollywood Bowl.

"We are heartbroken at the loss of Mark Benjamin and his son Lucas in a tragic accident," Charles Muttillo, the firm's vice president said in a written statement.

It was not immediately clear who the other two dead people were. Also recovered were the remains of two cats and a dog.

Several people who knew Mark Benjamin told The Associated Press he would typically pilot the plane between Santa Monica and Hailey, Idaho, though they did not know whether Benjamin was at the controls Sunday.

Mark Benjamin lived in Malibu but would frequently spend weekends in the outdoors that he loved around the Sun Valley area of Idaho, said longtime friend John French of Ketchum, Idaho.

French, also a pilot, said that Benjamin started flying the Cessna about six years ago.
"He flew a lot," French said. "He was not a casual pilot."

Benjamin was an avid nature photographer who would rise early to make pictures while others slept, French said. He also loved the stars, and built a home in Ketchum with a retractable roof so that a large telescope could take in the night sky. His other son, Matt, works at the University of Colorado planetarium.

An active philanthropist, Benjamin had a particular interest in nature conservation and youth programs. Executives with the Idaho Conservation League and the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu praised a man they said practiced generosity for its own sake — not the recognition some seek. After listening intently, he often would conclude a group discussion with a trenchant suggestion or observation, friends said.

During Sunday's flight, there was "no communication with the pilot indicting there's a problem with the aircraft at any time," Van McKenny, lead investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, said Monday.

The investigation was affected by the federal government shutdown that began late Monday on the West Coast.

Investigators gathered all evidence that could not be preserved from the active accident scene and then left Tuesday morning. The plane was taken off site for potential future investigation, acting airport manager Stelios Makrides said. Soon after, the airport reopened to plane traffic Tuesday afternoon.

 

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Mark Benjamin was a friend and fellow pilot and I am deeply saddened over this very unfortunate accident. Mark was a very safety-conscious pilot and never compromised safety under any circumstance. He attended the very best simulator training available in he world on a regular basis and strove for the highest levels of proficiency. I have no doubt that the circumstances causing this accident were simply beyond the control of any pilot.

 

Bob- Sorry to hear about your friends' daughter. Aviation fatalities are always tough. Here one moment and gone the next.

 

Here is the facebook page reference by an article.


IN MEMORY: Morley Builders? tribute to CEO Benjamin and son, Lucas

https://www.facebook.com/MorleyBuilders

From reading this, the tragedy is worse when good people are lost-so sorry to hear about your friends daughter. No one got up that day and planned to die, especially in that manner. Sad and Tragic. Everyone must be reeling from the pain and shock of it all.

Further down the facebook page:

For the sixth consecutive year, Morley Builders has been listed as one of "The Best Places To Work" by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Recognized for our corporate culture, communications and leadership, it comes as no surprise we have 65 employees with over 25+ years with Morley!

 

The L.A. Medical examiner has released the names of the deceased. Our friend's daughter was Kyla. She was quite a lady. Blowing a tire on any airplane is a worst day scenario, no way to control the asymmetrical drag.