Safety

Paulo Emanuele, head of popular aviation enthusiasts website, Airliners.net, died yesterday after his aircraft crashed on the runway of Santa Monica Airport.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration's preliminary accident report, Emanuele had just departed Santa Monica in a experimentally certified Siai-Marchetti SF-260C (N688C) registered to Wingspan Inc of Los Angeles when the aircraft "began a left turn for noise abatement, then turned back to the right descending rapidly at a 70-80deg angle, according to an airborne witness".

The site, today, posted a message to users saying: "It is with the deepest sorrow that I let you know Paulo died this evening in a tragic plane crash. His plane took off out of Santa Monica Airport at 17.00 and lost power. Paulo attempted to return to the airport, but the plane crashed on the runway. This is all we know at this time...He will be deeply missed ... "

Flightglobal found this video showing Paulo flying a Yak 52 aircraft over Malibu, California.