A small plane made an emergency landing Tuesday on Mission Beach in San Diego after experiencing engine failure shortly after takeoff. Pilot Victor Schneider and his daughter were airborne for about 15 minutes when the Cessna’s engine stopped functioning at approximately 800 feet above the coastline.
Schneider, a commercial airline pilot who has owned the 1953 Cessna 170 for over 23 years, described the situation as a “complete engine failure.” He identified a safe spot on the sand near the waterline and executed a controlled glide to land. The incident occurred around noon, with no injuries reported among the pilot, his daughter, or beachgoers.
Schneider stated he attempted to restart the engine but determined it was unrecoverable. “You want to put it down where it’s safe,” he said. “I didn’t want to hit anybody.” He noted that only a few people were present on the beach, allowing for a low-risk landing despite high tide and limited hard sand for touchdown.
The FAA is set to assist in relocating the plane from the shore to its departure point at Oceanside Airport. Schneider, who has accumulated 25,000 hours of flying experience, confirmed this was the first issue he had encountered with the aircraft during his ownership.
