A single-engine Cessna 152 crashed into Penmar Golf Course shortly after 6 p.m. last Thursday. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. Apparently the pilot may have been practicing landings at Santa Monica Airport when the aircraft developed engine problems.
On Friday residents raised new concerns about the safety and air pollution risks of operating the airport amidst dense residential neighborhoods.
The FAA recently ended a six-month test that required some small planes to fly a “250 degree heading” alternate takeoff route from Santa Monica Airport, flying northwest over Santa Monica neighborhoods rather than flying over the Penmar Golf Course and neighborhoods in Venice and Mar Vista.
Lisa Hughes, chair of Santa Monica’s Neighbors for a Safe & Healthy Community, said the crash could have been worse if the pilot had been taking the FAA’s alternate takeoff route. Hughes said “if it was on the 250 heading it could go right into one of our schools, or my house.”
Airplanes have previously departed with a sharp left-turn over the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Venice and Mar Vista in order to reduce the noise, safety and air pollution risks for Santa Monica residents of operating a jet airport inside the City.
Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl said “I am grateful that the FAA tested this procedure, and I strongly encourage all my constituents to urge federal officials to implement it permanently… I can’t ask a kid living in Venice, Mar Vista or West LA to play in a black cloud of aircraft emissions so that someone in Santa Monica is spared the noise impacts.”
LANow: Pilot killed in crash at golf course in Venice identified.
Santa Monica Daily Press: Plane crash adds to SMO flight path concerns
YoVenice: Bill Rosendahl Calls for Permanent Adoption of New FAA Flight Pattern
Tags: faa, Mar Vista, Penmar Golf Course, Santa Monica, Santa Monica airport, Venice
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