SURFSIDE - One ad message made an unexpected splash Friday July the 4th when a banner-towing plane crash-landed just off Surfside beach, resulting in minor injuries to the pilot but none to those on the ground.

In one of the more unusual public safety incidents on the Fourth of July holiday, the single-engine Cessna 150 J lost power before it ditched about 100 feet off the beach adjacent to the gated community around 3:55 p.m.

Seal Beach lifeguards pulled the pilot from the water a few minutes later. The lone pilot was taken to a local medical facility for treatment.

The orange-and-white plane, damaged on the bottom part of its nose, was pulled from the water by a tractor around 4:30 p.m., said Sgt. Steve Bowles of the Seal Beach Police Department.

Bowles said the mild outcome was fortunate given the busy Fourth of July holiday.

"It was a miracle that he didn't have more significant injuries and no one was hurt on the ground," Bowles said.

The pilot had brought the plane in "like a regular landing," he said.

Ryan Johnson said he was in the water when the plane few close overhead. The pilot had detached the advertising banner over the ocean before landing, Johnson said.

He saw the pilot motion with his hand through his cockpit window for people to get out of the way.

"He knew what he was doing," Johnson said.

After he hit the water, the pilot attempted to get out of the plane but was unable to do so because of the waves,Johnson said.