October 26, 1955 Aeronca 7AC Champion Bank of America Los Angeles, CA (WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES)
Benjamin Fauth, age 28 was employed by Bank of America (LAX Branch) as a Trainee Bank Teller. Due to poor performance, he was terminated after two weeks on the job.
Mr. Fauth was also a former Air Force lieutenant and a licensed commercial pilot.
When told by his supervisor that he needed to look for a job elsewhere. Fauth replied with a laugh "Thats OK I don't think I wanted this kind of a job anyway and I've already applied for an airline job"
The day after being dismissed from his job at the bank, Mr. Fauth rented an Aeronca 7AC Champion (N82081) from Universal Flyers at nearby Hawthorne Airport and flew it to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).Tower controllers at LAX watched as Mr. Fauth circled the field several times without making any radio calls.
At first they thought the pilot had an emergency of some kind but then the plane suddenly began a dive for the bank building.
The plane slammed through the window and wall narrowly missing the two construction workers in white coveralls on the right.