Small Plane Crashes In Huntington Beach; Pilot Pulled From Ocean

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — A small plane crashed into the ocean Friday afternoon in Huntington Beach and the pilot had to be pulled from the ocean, according to reports.

Photos posted on social media showed the plane in shallow water around 1:30 p.m. Friday as lifeguards looked on. Video showed the plane barreling into the water as onlookers shout. Two lifeguards then ran into the water to help.

"It's going into the water! It's going into the water! It's going into the water," a worried onlooker screams. "Oh, dude!"

Twitter user Billy - Captain Soncho told Patch the plane came onto the beach shortly after the wreck. It appeared to crash in front of a lifeguard competition.

"I guess he got really lucky to have a few hundred of the best lifeguards in the world right there," the user said.

The annual California Surf Lifesaving Association championships were scheduled to take place Friday on Huntington State Beach.

The Huntington Beach Fire Department told KTVU the plane carried a banner over the beach. It was reportedly for a tequila brand.

The Federal Aviation Administration told KNBC-TV the pilot was the only person on board. He appeared to be in a neck brace, KCAL-TV reported.

FAA records indicated the plane is a Piper J3C-65 Cub registered to Van Wagner Aerial Media in Hollywood, Florida. A message left with the company wasn't immediately returned.

The model was manufactured in 1946, records showed.

According to the Museum of Flight, Piper Cubs are light, two-seater planes that first flew in the 1930s that were popular before World War II and were later used by the Army for "observation and liaison."

"Cubs, along with similar aircraft produced by Aeronca and Taylorcraft, enabled commanders to move quickly among their troops, spot from the air, and help direct artillery fire," the museum said. "After the war, many Cubs returned to civilian life, where they helped to popularize aviation in the post-war period."

Production of civil J-3 Cubs ended in 1947, but its descendants, notably the Piper PA-18 Super Cub, were made into the 1990s.