A small airplane made an emergency landing on the sand between Lifeguard Towers 11 and 13 around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2025, after experiencing engine trouble and being unable to return to John Wayne Airport, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department.
The HBPD helicopter pilot overheard radio traffic from John Wayne Airport alerting about the aircraft in distress and located it as it was searching for a place to land.
The pilot maintained visual contact and observed the plane touch down safely on the city beach.
Both occupants of the plane were uninjured.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified.
Emergency landings by small aircraft happen regularly across the U.S., including California, though most are non-fatal and involve mechanical issues or fuel problems.
Here are key points based on recent data and trends:
- Nationwide, the FAA investigates thousands of general aviation incidents each year.
- In 2023, there were over 1,200 emergency landings and aviation accidents involving small planes across the U.S.
- California sees dozens of small aircraft emergency landings annually.
- These include landings on roads, beaches, parks, and open fields.
- Southern California, with its dense air traffic and numerous small airports, is a frequent hotspot.
- Engine failure is one of the most common causes.
- Pilots often report loss of power, fuel exhaustion, or mechanical malfunction.
- Emergency landings are typically precautionary and aim to avoid populated areas.
- Most incidents result in no injuries.
- According to the NTSB, over 80% of general aviation accidents are non-fatal.
- Pilots are trained to identify safe landing zones and follow emergency protocols.
- Recent examples in California include:
- A small plane landing on Interstate 15 in San Diego (September 2025)
- A crash landing in Heartwell Park, Long Beach (October 2025)
- Multiple beach landings in Orange and San Diego counties over the past year
- The FAA and NTSB investigate all emergency landings.
- Their findings help improve safety standards and pilot training.