Former Santa Monica Mayor Rex Minter was killed in a single-engine aircraft crash Friday just south of the Santa Monica Pier, according to Santa Monica city officials.
“The city of Santa Monica mourns the passing of former Mayor Rex H. Minter (1927 -2022)and we send our deepest condolences to his children, grandchildren, family members, and his many friends throughout Santa Monica,” wrote Santa Monica spokeswoman Constance Farrell.
Minter, who was a passenger in the plane, was elected to the Santa Monica City Council in 1955 and served as mayor between 1963 and 1967, Farrell said. He later served as city attorney for Arcadia, and as a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The condition of the pilot of the Cessna was not immediately known. Both needed to be freed from the wreckage, according to Los Angeles County Lifeguards.
The plane flipped over after landing at around 3:15 p.m., according to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.
“The pilot reported engine issues after departing from Santa Monica Airport,” said Gregor, adding that the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
Santa Monica Fire Department Chief Danny Alvarez confirmed the pilot called the airport tower before the crash landing. “We have a report that they did report some sort of emergency to the tower at Santa Monica Airport but we’re still gathering the details,” he said.
Josh Feenberg and a friend were on the beach when the plane crashed. “My friend saw a plane flying really low and was really confused,” he told ABC 7. “Then we saw it fly down there and we thought it would be a smooth landing but it hit the water and flipped over.
“It was pretty scary.”
“The city is grateful for Mr. Minter’s public service and we join his family in mourning his passing,” Farrell said.
Flags in front of City Hall will be lowered to half-staff and a City Council meeting in the new year will be adjourned in honor of Minter’s service.