Los Angeles Times

Pilot, dog swim ashore after watery crash

FAA says aircraft ended up in ocean off Rancho Palos Verdes after engine issues.

- By Rebecca Ellis and Nathan Solis

A man and his dog managed to paddle safely to shore after the pilot’s small plane ended up in the ocean off Rancho Palos Verdes, according to law enforcemen­t.

Sgt. Jeffrey Velasco with the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department said a call came in around 5:20 p.m. Sunday of a plane crashing into the ocean not far from Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles. The aircraft crashed about 150 to 200 yards from the shore and a bystander called 911, Velasco said.

The department posted on X that it sent an air rescue team for the small plane. Responding deputies said the pilot was unharmed. The plane was a single-engine Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, according to the Federal Aviation Administra­tion, and the incident is under investigat­ion.

The plane sank, according to Craig Little with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and divers with the department went out into the water to f lag its location, but there was no attempt to salvage the plane, which the FAA said was manufactur­ed in 1981.

The circumstan­ces surroundin­g the incident were unclear Monday morning, but the FAA categorize­d the crash as an accident due to engine issues. The pilot was flying from Santa Monica to Long Beach when the engine failure occurred, according to the sheriff ’s office.

Edward Wargo, a U.S. Coast Guard spokespers­on, said there was one person on board along with their dog.

“Both were able to safely swim,” he said.

The pilot was uninjured, according to Little, and was able to walk away from the incident with his dog. The plane is registered to Christophe­r Risso, according to the FAA. City News Service, citing Sheriff ’s Department officials, identified the pilot as Christophe­r Krajacic. When reached by phone, Krajacic declined to comment for The Times.

Wargo said the Coast Guard will now focus on ensuring there’s no environmen­tal damage from the plane’s fuel.

 ?? L.A. County Sheriff’s Department ?? L.A. COUNTY Sheriff ’s and Fire Department rescuers were sent to the crash scene, authoritie­s said.
L.A. County Sheriff’s Department L.A. COUNTY Sheriff ’s and Fire Department rescuers were sent to the crash scene, authoritie­s said.

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