Friends gather to mourn flight instructor following plane crash near Catalina Island

A well-known pilot and flight instructor are said to be among the five people killed in that deadly plane crash near Catalina Island. Jasmine Viel reports.

[@sonoftherepublic9792]

Condolences to the victims. He chose to take off from an unlit runway and over unforgiving terrain at an airport closed to traffic for the night and climbed directly into a dense marine layer of fog with an almost fully loaded aircraft. Unbelievably poor aeronautical decision making.

[@chuck_in_socal]

A man has got to know his limitations.

[@elpepinazo7801]

@@chuck_in_socal You bet!!!

[@juliepeterson6639]

I am so sorry. This is such a terrible tragedy, and I’m praying for all loved ones.

[@pauldalli7009]

The pilot broke big rules

[@saucy166]

I was a student pilot at proteus and I knew this dude really terrible lost 😞 prayers to His family

[@megadavis5377]

What in the world made such a down-to-earth, sensible and caring individual go so completely rogue and radical in this one instance?

[@alanpitkin411]

This is why i gave up on flight training my instructor and a student were killed if they can't fly WTF

[@justsnappy]

Is this the Iranian dude that always argues w SoCal ATC?

[@billeldon]

Check some of the review videos already on YT. It was illegal to take off from that runway after dark, it was fully in the marine layer, etc. A lot of bad decisions led to a terrible disaster (not an “accident”).

[@myobmyob2215]

FAA more lenient than the DMV WCGW

[@busher69]

Takes off on a runway closed for night operations and has no lights. It's like taking off into a black hole. RULES - we don't need no stinking rules. I GOT THIS ! ! ! - - - - Where over confidence and get there itis flys good judgement straight into terrain. Kills 4 innocent people who trusted him with their lives. Come on man, what were you thinking?

[@slipsethanon9997]

Of course this is a sad situation. But can no one else see the irony of a flight instructor dying in a plane crash I mean come on really.

[@mayflowerkid4422]

fail?

[@bucknutty952]

Maybe he he had too many Catalina wines mixers (drum drum hi-hat)

[@jeffstrongman7889]

Everyone is in short sleeve shirts and this fairy is wearing a sweater and scarf.

[@Look_What_You_Did]

He is still better off than you in all respects.

[@billeldon]

Compensating much? Did your mom get that user name for you?