- Pilot Mike Bremner successfully landed his aircraft on Huntington State Beach following a critical engine failure.
- The Piper Cherokee 140 lost power five minutes after departing John Wayne Airport at one thousand feet.
- Federal investigators have launched a safety inquiry into the mechanical cause of the emergency beach landing.
Mike Bremner guided a Piper Cherokee 140 onto Huntington State Beach Monday after the aircraft lost engine power shortly after leaving John Wayne Airport. He and his 16-year-old nephew, Griffin Bremner, escaped unharmed.
The pair had been flying toward Van Nuys when the engine began sputtering at roughly 1,000 feet. The failure came about five minutes after takeoff, leaving Bremner little altitude and few landing choices.
Bremner told SoCal Approach: “Cherokee 4521 Romeo, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. We’ve lost our engine,” followed by, “We’re just coming up over the shoreline, and we will be putting it down on the beach. Just in front of the stacks.”
The Mayday call sent the aircraft toward an open stretch of sand near Magnolia Street. The landing unfolded near crowds attending the U.S. Open of Surfing, but authorities reported no injuries among beachgoers or the two people aboard.
“It was just amazing,” one witness said. “I’m just so happy they landed and nobody got hurt.” Witnesses described people running clear as the aircraft touched down and rolled about 100 feet before stopping.
Bremner used the shoreline as his last available runway
Bremner said his preflight checks and takeoff had appeared normal. When the engine went down to a sputter, he tried a short memory-based checklist before committing to the beach.
He checked the ignition, turned on the fuel pump and switched fuel tanks. The engine would not restart.
Bremner said he saw the beach to his right and glided toward it. He estimated the aircraft reached the sand at approximately 50 knots, or 50 to 60 mph.
Griffin recalled feeling the plane shudder and the propellers slow. Then his uncle turned toward him and said, “Griffin, we’re cooked!”
The aircraft landed near the 22000 block of Pacific Coast Highway, south of Magnolia Street and in front of the AES Huntington Beach power plant, known locally as “the stacks.”
| Flight detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Departure | John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana |
| Destination | Van Nuys Airport |
| Engine failure | Roughly five minutes after takeoff |
| Failure altitude | About 1,000 feet |
| Landing area | Huntington State Beach near Magnolia Street |
| Reported landing speed | Approximately 50 knots, or 50 to 60 mph |
The Federal Aviation Administration said the single-engine Piper PA-28 landed safely on the sand around 2 p.m. local time Monday, July 27, 2026. “Two people were on board. The FAA will investigate,” the agency said.
State and federal investigators are examining the mechanical failure
California State Parks is working with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board on the investigation. Huntington Beach Police Department spokesperson Jessica Cuchilla confirmed that the aircraft landed on the state beach south of Magnolia Street and said no injuries occurred at the scene.
The aircraft displayed the slogan “Elevating Elder Dignity.” It was connected to Elder Abuse Air Force, the nonprofit Bremner founded to raise awareness of elder financial fraud and elder physical abuse.
Bremner, who works as a corporate pilot, said the organization uses aviation in its public-awareness work. The beach landing occurred as the U.S. Open of Surfing brought large crowds to the area.
A small section of the beach closed temporarily while Huntington Beach firefighters secured the aircraft. Officials cleared the area shortly afterward.
The plane showed no visible structural damage after the landing. Crews later towed it from the beach for inspection and transport back to its home base at John Wayne Airport.
The passenger said the frightening flight became a survival story
Griffin was visiting from Canada when he boarded the flight with his uncle. He said the aircraft’s stutter and slowing propeller made the loss of power immediately apparent.
The aircraft’s descent left no room for a long troubleshooting process. Bremner had to select a landing area while beachgoers moved away from the approaching plane.
Despite the experience, Bremner said he remains confident in the aircraft’s maintenance and plans to fly again. “I think we’re extremely fortunate,” he said, describing the outcome as safe and fortunate.
The investigation will focus on why the engine lost power after what Bremner described as normal preflight checks and a normal takeoff. The aircraft’s inspection follows its removal from the sand on July 27.
