UPDATE Friday 4:30pm | A public “Mark Bixby Celebration of Life” is planned for Friday, March 25, at 10 a.m. at the base of the peninsula on the bay beach, between Gondola Getaway and the U.S. Sailing Center. Click here for more information.
Additionally, The Bixby family has set up a memorial webpage for Bixby at Legacy.com. The page features a memory book for visitors to leave messages, photos and biographical information about Bixby, including a life purpose statement circa 1997 and various other writings and lists all in Bixby’s own words. Click here to visit the memorial webpage.
UPDATE Friday 12:15pm | Theresa Bixby, wife of Mark Bixby, e-mailed the Long Beach Post moments ago with a message to the greater Long Beach community saying, “The outpouring of love and support for Mark from so many people has been amazing.” She asked that in lieu of more food and flowers, those who wish to do should give to others in need or to one of three charities in Mark’s honor. Her e-mail message is below:
The outpouring of love and support for Mark from so many people has been amazing. We are all so heartbroken and people are showing their love with food and flowers.
I would ask people to give to others in need in lieu of more food and flowers. Mark would want people to give to a charity of their choice or one of three charities in his honor; YMCA of Greater Long Beach Camping Services Endowment, Rotary Club of Long Beach Scholarship Foundation, or Children Today. He was on the board of YMCA Camping Services, was President of Rotary Club and sat on the scholarship committee and was very supportive of the non-profit, Children Today, that I co-founded with Jennifer Fitzgerald.
Thank you,
Theresa
Contact each organization here:
YMCA of Greater Long Beach
Rotary Club of Long Beach
Children Today
UPDATE Friday 10:30am | A website has emerged tracking the health condition of Michael Jensen, the lone survivor of Wednesday’s plane crash at Long Beach Airport.
The latest entry states:
Mike keeps amazing us by his strengh. He continues to show signs of steady improvements. His health has stabilized enough to allow for his transfer from The Memorial Hospital to the UCI Burn Center. Please keep him in your prayers!
Jensen was originally taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital. He is now at the University of California, Irvine Regional Burn Center in Orange.
According to his wife, Diane, they have “the most amazing surgeon looking after him, who happens to live in Belmont Shore.”
A bike ride is planned for tonight (Friday) starting at Bixby Park at 5:30 p.m. and ending at a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. on the sand in front of 45 Dana Place on the bayside of the peninsula.
UPDATE Thursday 5:47pm | The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office earlier today released the names of the five victims who lost their lives in Wednesday’s plane crash at Long Beach Municipal Airport.
The victims who died have been officially identified as Jeffrey Albert Berger, 49, of Manhattan Beach; Mark Llewellyn Bixby, 44, of Long Beach; Kenneth Earl Cruz, 43, of Culver City; Thomas Fay Dean, 50, of Laguna Beach; and Bruce Michael Krall, 51, of Ladera Ranch.
The lone survivor, 51-year-old Michael Jensen, also of Long Beach, remains in critical condition. He reportedly suffered head trauma as well as burns to the lower part of his body, though the severity of his injuries is not known. His family, asking for privacy, has requested that only the status of his condition be made public.
The Press-Telegram is reporting that Cruz is believed to have been the pilot.
The charred wreckage of the Beechcraft King Air 200 Turboprop fixed-wing, twin-engine plane remains where it came to rest on the median between a taxiway and runway 16R north of runway 25 L, according to the PT.
UPDATE Thursday 3:08pm | A candlelight vigil in memory of those who lost their lives in Wednesday’s plane crash and for crash survivor Mike Jensen will be held Friday at 6:00pm on the sand in front of 45 Dana Place on the bayside of the peninsula, according to a post on City Auditor Laura Doud’s Facebook page. Victim Mark Bixby’s grandmother lived at that address, according to the Facebook post.
UPDATE Thursday 1:30pm | The Press Telegram is reporting that Mike Jensen, the sole survivor of yesterday’s plane crash, may be improving but is still listed in critical condition at Long Beach Memorial.
The PT quotes Long Beach Councilmember Gary DeLong as saying, “He’s
UPDATE Thursday 10:15am | The family of Mike Jensen, the lone survivor of a plane crash at Long Beach Municipal Airport on Wednesday that claimed the lives of five others, has issued the following statement through Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where Jensen is being treated:
“Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the families of Mike’s friends aboard the plane with him. Thank you for the outpour of support and overwhelming compassion shown by so many throughout the community of Long Beach. We are eternally grateful to the Long Beach Fire Department, Long Beach Memorial, and the church and cycling communities. We appreciate you affording us this private time with family.”
Jensen remains in critical condition, and his family has requested that only his condition status be provided to the media, a hospital spokeswoman said.
UPDATE 11:59pm | The Los Angeles Times provides a profile of the men impacted by the plane crash.
UPDATE 10:42pm | The Press Telegram is reporting that among the five reported dead is Bruce Krall, who was Tom Dean’s banker. The PT also provides an extended profile of the men impacted by the plane crash.
Mike Jensen, the lone survivor of the crash, reportedly suffered head trauma and burns to his lower legs, according to the PT.
UPDATE 9:30pm | Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster released the following statement:
“We carry a very heavy heart following today’s tragic accident. These were charismatic men that believed in Long Beach, made a real contribution and worked towards a better community. Our thoughts and prayers go to their children and their families in this time of unspeakable sadness.”
UPDATE 9:30pm | The Associated Press has video of the plane crash aftermath.
UPDATE 5:01pm | A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said that no distress call was issued by the pilot of a twin-engine passenger plane before it crashed at Long Beach Airport this morning, killing five of its six passengers.
The Beechcraft King Air 200 Turboprop carrying a handful of prominent Long Beach community members took off without issue just before 10:30 a.m. The plane, however, circled the airport and was trying to land when the crash occurred, the spokesman said.
Why the plane circled back remains unknown, the spokesman said.
When the aircraft slammed into the ground, it split apart, separating the tail from the body, before becoming engulfed in flames. Photos from the scene show scorch marks originating from a strip of tarmac for about 150 yards to where the body of the plane came to rest.
Investigators remain at the scene as they attempt to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Reeb said during a press conference at the airport earlier this afternoon that the lone survivor, who has been identified as Mike Jensen, is still in critical condition at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
“He was located inside the passenger compartment of the aircraft, and as our firefighters made entry and were able to assess each of the occupants, then this individual was found to be still alive, and so we treated and transported the individual,” Reeb said.
Airport Manager Mario Rodriguez said that the FAA is currently “going through the records” as investigators attempt to piece together what caused the crash. “We have footage on the crash, and the NTSB is also investigating,” Rodriguez said.
UPDATE LIVE Press Conference 4:00pm | Click here.
UPDATE 3:41pm | The Press-Telegram expands their coverage:
Local developers Jeff Berger and Tom Dean and bicycle advocate Mark Bixby, a member of one of Long Beach’s founding families, died in a plane crash today at Long Beach Airport.
Dean spokesman Mike Murchison confirmed the deaths, and he said in a brief conversation that he had heard another passenger, Mike Jensen, the owner of Pacific Retail Partners, is in critical condition at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. Bixby worked for Jensen, sources said.
A Fire Department spokesman said two other people were killed in the crash, but their identities weren’t available.
Allan Crawford, a friend of Bixby, said the group was headed for Park City, Utah, to go skiing.
Click here to read the story.
UPDATE 3:38pm | Long Beach First Lady Nancy Foster posted the following via Facebook:
Today is a very sad day here in Long Beach for so many families, friends and our community. My thoughts and prayers are with them all. I knew Mark and always loved seeing him at events taking his beautiful photographs especially at the biking events. My thoughts and prayers are with Theresa… so unbelievably sad… for all of the families.
UPDATE 3:20pm | The Long Beach Fire Department released the following statement:
This morning at approximately 10:30 a.m., units from the Long Beach Fire Department were called to the scene of a private twin-engine Beech King Air Turbo propeller plane that had crashed during takeoff at the Long Beach Airport.
Within one minute, the LBFD units arrived on scene at the Southwest corner of Runway 30 where they found the wreckage of the plane in a fiery blaze. The units quickly utilized water and foam to extinguish the blaze within two minutes.
Firefighters then quickly used specialized extrication methods and tools to gain access into the twisted wreckage. Once access was gained, firefighters found that there were a total of six passengers onboard. Five had perished in the crash, and one was still alive. They immediately extricated the critical patient from the wreckage and began treatment before transporting the man to a local area hospital.
The cause of the plane crash is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.
A total of 32 LBFD apparatus and 68 department personnel responded to the scene.
Commercial and general aviation operations at the Long Beach Airport continue uninterrupted.
UPDATE 2:52 pm | Councilmember Gary DeLong talks to the Los Angeles Times, saying “he had spoken to the wives of two of the men killed in the crash and was at the hospital, awaiting updates on Jensen’s condition.”
“These are close friends and part of our extended family,” he said. “These individuals were community leaders in Long Beach, and they will be missed, both today and for years to come.”
Click here to read the story.
UPDATE 2:50pm | Commercial planes are taking off normally from the Long Beach Airport.
UPDATE 2:20pm | Long Beach’s Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, whose district includes Long Beach Airport, released the following statement:
“I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who died or were injured in today’s tragic plane crash at the Long Beach Airport. I also commend the Long Beach Fire Department and the Long Beach Airport staff for their quick response to the scene and for their continued professionalism in handling the news regarding this horrible event.”
UPDATE 1:46pm | Tom Dean and Jeff Berger were local developers and principals with LCW Partners.
UPDATE 1:46pm | Mike Jensen is an active member of Bay Shore Community Church, Long Beach Blastand the Aquarium of the Pacific. Jensen serves as president of Pacific Retail Partners. According to the company’s website, PRP “provides integrity based retail real estate services in site acquisition and development for quality retailers and development partners.” Jensen is in critical condition.
Click here for his biography.
UPDATE 1:43pm | Mark Bixby was a prominent Long Beach community leader and bicycle advocate who served as president of Long Beach Rotary and was involved in several community organizations. Bixby worked at Pacific Retail Partners as a broker.
Click here for his biography.
UPDATE 1:39pm | Gazettes Newspapers is reporting that Mike Jensen is in critical condition.
Click here to read the story.
UPDATE 1:11pm | The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Long Beach Airport Director Mario Rodriguez told reporters: “We are deeply saddened by this event. This is the last thing any airport director wants to see.”
Click here to read the story.
(Left) Mike Jensen is in critical condition, according to the Gazettes. (Right) Mark Bixby is among the five confirmed dead.
UPDATE 12:23pm | The Gazette Newspapers first reported on Facebook, and Councilman Gary DeLong confirmed with the Long Beach Post, that prominent Long Beach community members Mark Bixby, Jeff Berger and Tom Dean are confirmed dead.
The other two deceased victims have yet to be identified.
Mike Jensen, the sixth passenger, survived the fiery crash and is in the hospital.
UPDATE 12:22pm | The Press Telegram is reporting that the plane was owned by local developer Thomas Dean.
UPDATE 12:19pm | LATimes: Live video coverage.
UPDATE 11:58am | Five passengers aboard a passenger plane that crashed at Long Beach Airport this morning have been confirmed dead.
Long Beach Firefighter Steve Yamamoto, a fire department spokesman, said there were six passengers on the plane. Initial reports indicated only five people had been onboard.
The surviving passenger is being treated at a local hospital, he said.
UPDATE 11:12am | Two people have been confirmed dead after a small, twin-engine plane crashed and burst into a fireball at Long Beach Airport, authorities said.
A Long Beach Fire Department spokesman said a third victim was taken to a nearby hospital.
The accident occurred at roughly 10:30 a.m., Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor told KTLA Channel 5 News. The plane was headed to Salt Lake City when it crashed during takeoff.
The twin-engine Beechcraft King Air seats 13, but only five people were on board at the time of the crash, fire department officials said.
The airport has been closed and all incoming and outgoing flights have been put on hold, they said.
11:00am | The Long Beach Post has just learned that a small plane has crashed at Long Beach Airport.
No further details are available at the moment, but we will be updating this post continually as we receive more information.