Cessna 150A Flips in Attempted Off-Airport Emergency Landing

Former Santa Monica Mayor Rex H. Minter (95) lost his life on 22 December 2022 when a 1960 Cessna 150A (N7032X) in which he was traveling attempted an emergency beach landing near Southern California’s Santa Monica Pier.

Flight-tracking records indicate the aircraft departed Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) at 15:08 PST. Firefighters were summoned at 15:17 PST to the 1800 block of Santa Monica Beach to find the single-engine Cessna inverted on the sand just inland of the waterline. The aircraft’s occupants—Mr. Minter and an as-of-yet unidentified pilot—were removed from the wreckage and transported to hospital.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the unidentified pilot of the plane reported engine problems shortly after take-off. Audio recordings obtained by Los Angeles FOX affiliate KTTV chronicled the Cessna pilot’s radio communications in the moments preceding the accident:

N7032X: “Santa Monica Tower, Cessna seven-zero-three-two-X-ray: I’d like to return.

SMO Tower: “Cessna three-two-X-ray, you can enter right traffic for runway two-one. Do you need assistance?”

N7032X: “Three-two-X-ray, I don’t … not at this time.

SMO Tower: “Roger.”

N7032X: “[unintelligible], Emergency.”

SMO Tower: “Cessna three-two-X-ray, can you make the field?

N7032X: “I’m going to try.”

SMO Tower: “Cessna three-two-X-ray, say type emergency and souls on board.”

N7032X: “We have two souls on board; the engine is running very, very rough.”

SMO Tower: “Cessna three-two-X-ray, join left base for runway three.”

N7032X: No response

SMO Tower: “Cessna three-two-X-ray, Santa Monica Tower.”

N7032X: “Three-two-X-ray.”

SMO Tower: “Cessna three-two-X-ray, can you make runway three?

N7032X: “Three-two-X-ray, I don’t think so. I think I may have to put it on the beach.

SMO Tower: “Cessna three-two-X-ray, roger. Landing [on] the beach will be at your own risk.”

N7032X: “Three-two-X-ray, I wish I had another choice.”

Video of the instance shows the Cessna descending, wing’s level, for a beach landing but impacting the shallow surf.

Firefighters removed the pilot and Minter—who was alive but in terminal cardiac arrest—from the inverted aircraft. Mr. Minter was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The pilot reportedly suffered minor to moderate injuries and is expected to recover.

Sitting Santa Monica mayor Gleam Davis confirmed Minter’s passing, stating on social media: "The City is grateful for Mr. Minter's public service and we join his family in mourning his passing. Flags in front of City Hall will be lowered to half-staff and a City Council meeting in the new year will be adjourned in honor of Minter's service."

Born in 1927, Rex H. Minter was elected to the Santa Monica City Council in 1955 and held the office of mayor from 1963 to 1967. Mr. Minter also served the people of the Golden State in the capacity of city attorney for Arcadia, and as a judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The accident is under investigation.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov