General aviation advocate and famed actor Harrison Ford was injured when the Ryan PT-22 he was flying crashed shortly after taking off from Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in California on March 5. An audio recording of tower-frequency ATC communications posted by website TMZ suggests Ford made a radio call saying his engine had failed and that he intended to make an immediate return to the airport; instead, he put the vintage military trainer down on Penmar Golf CourseClub in Venice. The FAA confirmed that a single-engine airplane made an emergency landing on the golf course at approximately 2:30 p.m. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating the accident. Ford was taken to a local hospital.
Ford has long championed general aviation, working with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association and other organizations on key issues, from user fees to contract towers. In addition to his advocacy on Capitol Hill, he has been involved in the Young Eagles and other educational programs. A Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy and Legends Aviation Legacy award winner, Ford most recently has been campaigning to preserve SMO.
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, commenting on the reports of the accident, said that Ford “has stood with all of us in the general aviation community throughout his life, and tonight the general aviation community stands with him.”