Second Flight from Santa Monica Proves Fatal

By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

April 4 -- In what is the second fatal airplane accident in less than month for flights leaving from Santa Monica Airport, a North Las Vegas native lost his life last Friday when his airplane crashed in the wooded hills outside of Burbank.

The accident comes in wake of a crash that killed former game show host Peter Tomarken and his wife nearly two weeks ago.

“It’s a coincidence, totally tragic, but still just a coincidence,” said Santa Monica Airport Manager Bob Trimborn,

Trimborn said could not recall the last time two accidents occurred such a short time apart.

“This was highly uncommon,” he said.

Trimborn noted that the pilot in Friday’s accident was only at the local airport for about day before leaving, and he did not keep his plane there.

Tomarken who crashed off the Santa Monica coastline after experiencing engine failure shortly after take-off, frequently used the airport.

Both planes were different types of aircraft, Trimborn noted, and comparing them woule be like “comparing a Toyota to a Cadillac.”

“Each accident is a unique set of experiences,” Trimborn said.

According to the Nation Transportation Safety Board’s website, Friday’s ill-fated flight marked the 31st flight connected to Santa Monica Airport has been in an accident; five of the accidents were fatal, killing a total of 12 people.

Since 2001, four of the five flights involved in accidents have proved fatal, according to the NTSB.

While Santa Monica Airport has an excellent record of providing safe storage space and landing and take-off environments, they are not responsible for maintaining aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and private pilots are required to make sure an airplane is in good working order.

“There are authorized inspectors at the airport, and the inspectors look over the repair facilities,” Trimborn said.

According to FAA guidelines, a plane must be inspected every 100 hours of flight time, pilots are required to have an annual flight review and a biannual medical exam and are encouraged to practice takeoffs and landings if they have not flown in 90 days.