Here We Go Again. Student Pilot Crashes Into a Home at 21st and Navy Streets.

My day started out fairly typical.

I was tending to complaints regarding a very noisy 6:30 AM jet landing (there is NO enforceable curfew on SMO landings). The complaints came from three Santa Monica residents, only one of whom is a member of Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution (CRAAP). I emailed the other two to sign up to be on the CRAAP contact list.

At the same time, I was putting the finishing touches on a letter of support for Senator Ted Lieu’s request for a formal investigation of the Santa Monica Airport’s toxic impacts on the adjacent neighborhoods. The letter will be sent to Debbie Raphael, Director California Environmental Protection Agency’s Department of Toxic Substance Control.

The pace of my day took a fairly rapid change at 3:05 PM when I received the following email-message from former Santa Monica Airport Commissioner Susan Hartley, “PLANE CRASH AT 21 AND NAVY!!!!” Well, that explained the drone of helicopter noise off in the distance that my wife Joan and I were hearing.

I called Susan for further information and she informed me that a small plane crashed into a home, and that only the pilot was injured. I debated with myself whether I should drive over to the crash site. Then I got a phone call from long-time SMO activist Virginia Ernst notifying me that a friend called her at work to tell her that a plane went down. My wife decided for me, insisting that I need to be there to let reporters know the community viewpoint.

So I grabbed my camera (I am a trained photographer), tried to make myself presentable, and hurried off to meet the press.

My route was down Airport Avenue to Dewey Street. At the sight of a half dozen news vans I parked my car and proceeded toward the area roped off with yellow tape.

This crash happened at about one year and very close to the last Penmar Golf Course crash (in Los Angeles). The Penmar crash resulted in the death of the pilot, who was performing practice flights to keep his pilot license up-to-date. This crash (in Santa Monica), I would learn, resulted in the pilot, who was flying solo, sustaining at least a broken leg. Also, I understand that one or two painters working at the crash site may have sustained injuries as well. I’m sure all the details will be sorted out in the days to come. Thankfully, no one was killed.

Channels 7, 5, 2 & 9, and 4 had vans at the scene as well as some reporters whose affiliation I could not determine. I looked around for some familiar news reporters. Sometimes I feel awkward approaching a news reporter, but they are almost always quite friendly and if they feel you have something of value to add to their story, they will interview you. I managed to get about five interviews. The reporters had already given away their business cards and although I have a good memory for faces, my memory for names is pretty bad.

I remember that I was interviewed by Channel 9 / Channel 2 reporter, Serene Branson. I was also interviewed by Channel 7.

In my haste leaving home, I forgot to bring my business cards to hand out. I love the graphics on my card that my friend and graphics artist Gary Averech designed for me. I have it on the top of the CRAAP webpage www.jetairpollution.com because a picture truly is worth a thousand words.

Speaking of pictures, I ran into John and Vivian, two Santa Monica activists who directed me to a good location to photograph the crash site. It was a very good location indeed once I was able to climb the block wall with a boost from John.

When I got home and told Joan that I forgot my cards she thought it might be worthwhile to grab some cards and go back again. OY!

I did so, and I ran into a couple of Venice activists at the site who were also working the press. I and they were interviewed by Channel 5. It can be quite exhausting.

One is never certain whether any footage from the interviews will be used, but I gave it my best shot. When I got home for the second time, there was both a voice mail message and an email message (6:10 PM) from the KNX 1070 Newsradio Afternoon Producer inquiring about a brief on air telephone interview. At first I thought, “Oh no, am I going to have to drive back to the site for a third time?” Fortunately the interview happened rather quickly and it seemed to go fairly well. I only had to be concerned with what I said and not how I looked.

Following the interview it was time to check through all the emails about the crash. That’s when I decided it might be an interesting topic for my Santa Monica, Venice and Mar Vista Patch blog. While I was writing I heard the TV in the other room, and it sounded like my brother Jerry was on the news. Joan called me in to see the Channel 9 news at 10:00 PM with Serene Branson reporting. I was also included in her 11:00 PM Channel 2 news report. They used my analogy of SMO is like a foot that has outgrown its shoe. I should have said smelly foot. It’s now 12:15 AM on Tuesday, some 9 hours after getting Susan Hartley’s email, and I still have to get the photos together.

I had my day turned around and I can only hope and pray that everyone can take notice of how absurd it is to have an especially busy airport surrounded by densely populated neighborhoods, on all sides. Of course there will be mishaps and accidents. It’s just plain stupid to hear from the FAA that because a jet has never crashed at SMO, it will not likely happen. They are gambling with the lives of SMO neighbors.

It is unfortunate that it takes an accident to draw media attention, but in any case, it is important to try and let the media know the community viewpoint.