An unsettling incident occurred on Monday afternoon when Mike Bremner, along with his nephew Griffin, faced an engine failure mid-flight. Their two-seat Piper PA-28 Cherokee airplane encountered trouble shortly after taking off from John Wayne Airport in Orange County.
Just minutes into the flight, the aircraft’s engine died. Griffin Bremner described sensing the plane’s stutter and saw the propeller slow down significantly. In response, Mike Bremner calmly informed Griffin of the situation by saying, “Griffin, we’re cooked!”
Mike quickly devised a plan, realizing the plane was descending too rapidly. He spotted an open area on Huntington State Beach and decided to make an emergency landing. The small plane safely touched down around 2 p.m., just south of Magnolia Street in Huntington Beach. A couple walking nearby had to rush out of harm’s way as the aircraft approached.
After landing, the plane rolled approximately 100 feet before Mike executed a sharp turn to bring it to a halt. Both uncle and nephew were unharmed. Emergency response teams from California State Parks arrived at the scene. They will collaborate with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate the cause of the engine failure.
A spokesperson explained that the flight was intended to go from Santa Ana to Van Nuys Airport. The engine malfunction happened about five minutes after departure. No ground injuries were reported, although a small area around the plane was temporarily inaccessible.
Despite the close call, Mike Bremner expressed his commitment to flying. As the founder of Elder Abuse Airforce, a nonprofit that utilizes flight to raise awareness about financial scams targeting seniors, he emphasized his continued faith in aircraft and their upkeep. Mike, who also flies corporate jets, remains confident in aviation safety and plans to continue his flying activities.