An image from Sky5 shows firefighters on the scene of a small plane crash at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima on Sept. 3, 2018. (Credit: KTLA)
A man died and a boy was injured after a single-engine plane crashed at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima on Monday afternoon, officials said. The overwhelming majority of the crashes occur during takeoff or landing and are attributed mostly to pilot error. Here, the news reports state that it was a possible plane issue.
The crash happened about 5:09 p.m. at the facility located at 12653 Osborne St., according to an alert from the Los Angeles Fire Department.
As the Cessna 150L was taking off from the airport, it experienced an unknown problem, and an emergency was declared over the radio, Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said. The aircraft then struck a building and landed upside down, the statement read.
Firefighters were able to extricate both victims who were on board. They were later identified by officials as a 12-year-old boy and a 60-year-old man.
The man—a flight instructor—suffered cardiac arrest and was given CPR before he and the boy were taken to nearby trauma centers, officials said.
The man was in grave condition but later died, a Fire Department spokesperson said. The juvenile was last listed in critical condition, according to the alert.
Previously, the Fire Department identified the younger victim as being 13 years old. That may have been the case because a bulldozer crew said he was apparently celebrating his birthday on Monday.
The boy's father, who purchased the flying lesson as a birthday gift for his son, was at the airport and witnessed the crash, according to the crew.
The Cessna crashed about a half-mile from the departure end of the runway, said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
A small fire erupted following the crash, Scott said. The airport houses L.A. County Fire Department equipment and personnel, who also witnessed the crash and were able to quickly extinguish the flames in the engine compartment and render aid, he added.
As soon as the plane took off, it appeared to have some sort of mechanical problem, the fire captain stated. Personnel from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the incident, Gregor said.
The plane was registered in Sheridan, Wyoming, according to FAA records. However, KTLA's Tim Lynn confirmed that the aircraft was based at Whiteman Airport.
KTLA's Brian Day, Sarah Fenton and Meghan McMonigle contributed to this story.
====================================
PACOIMA, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A 60-year-old man died and a 12-year-old boy was critically injured after a small plane they were in crashed at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima.
Authorities said the single-engine Cessna 150L crashed near the 12600 block of West Osborne Street around 5:10 p.m. Monday shortly after takeoff.
The pilot radioed in an emergency just before the plane went down nose first, striking a building and then flipping upside down.
A Los Angeles County firefighting air facility is near the airport and firefighters were able to arrive on scene quickly. They put out a small fire that had started in the plane and extricated the two occupants.
Two people, a 12-year-old boy and 60-year-old man, were extracted from the debris.
They were taken to Holy Cross Medical Center.
The 60-year-old was in cardiac arrest after the crash and firefighters performed CPR before he was transported to the hospital.
He was initially described as being in grave condition. Later Monday night, Fire Department officials confirmed the man had died.
The 12-year-old was transported in critical condition.
It was unclear what caused the crash. However, the overwhelming majority of the crashes occur during takeoff or landing and are attributed mostly to pilot error.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
==============================
Narrative:
The aircraft impacted the terrain near the departure end of Runway 12 at Whiteman Airport (KWHP), Pacoima, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the two occupants onboard received serious injuries. The pilot died from the injuries sustained in the crash.
Sources:
https://abc7.com/2-critically-injured-after-small-plane-crashes-in-pacoima/4138445/
http://www.foxla.com/news/local-news/two-critically-injured-in-plane-crash-at-whiteman-airport-in-pacoima
https://ktla.com/2018/09/03/2-injured-in-small-plane-crash-at-whiteman-airport-in-pacoima-lafd/
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=10789
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N10789
Date: 03-SEP-2018
Time: 17:10
Type:
Cessna 150L
Owner/operator: Sale Reported
Registration: N10789
C/n / msn: 15075041
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Whiteman Airport (KWHP), Pacoima, CA -
United States of America Phase: Unknown
Nature: Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport: