U.S. probes plane crash on Rancho Palos Verdes beach

Federal investigators are looking into how a small plane ended upside-down on a Ranchos Palos Verdes beach Friday, leaving the pilot with minor injuries, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, which occurred just before noon in the Portuguese Bend area, FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said.

Los Angeles County firefighters were called to the Trump National Golf Club about 11:45 a.m. after receiving reports of a plane on the beach, department officials said. Television footage showed emergency workers examining the site as waves hit the aircraft

The pilot was the only person on board the Piper PA-18 Super Cub, Kenitzer said. After the crash, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Parker tweeted the pilot was “alert & talking.”

Kenitzer said it was not immediately clear what led up to the crash. NTSB--the lead investigative agency--will probably release a basic preliminary report within a few weeks, but Kenitzer said it would probably take months to determine a probable cause.

The plane was registered to Van Wagner Aerial Media, a Florida-based aerial advertising company. Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said initial reports indicated the plane was “towing an advertising banner.”

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kate.mather@latimes.com

joseph.serna@latimes.com