A small single-engine Cessna crashed upside down in the parking lot of an O'Reilly Auto Parts store in the San Fernando Valley on Monday morning, critically injuring the pilot and crashing into high-voltage power lines. Officials said the plane clipped some high voltage lines in the immediate area, and police were evacuating local businesses and residences for safety.
The incident occurred around 11:08 am near the intersection of Van Nuys Boulevard and Ralston Avenue in Pacoima. The plane, a 2007 Cessna 172S Skyhawk registered to a local flight school at nearby Whiteman Airport, was returning to the airport when it went down. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the aircraft clipped high-voltage power lines and a power pole before nose-diving into the parking lot.
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It came to rest upside down, leaking fuel but narrowly missing parked cars and pedestrians. Bystanders quickly rushed to the scene and helped lift the wreckage to free the unconscious pilot, who was found outside the plane.
Pilot survived crash
According to news agency the Associated Press, a 70-year-old pilot was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. He was the only person on board. The crash caused power outages in the immediate area, prompting evacuations of nearby homes and businesses as a precaution. LAFD crews worked alongside utility workers from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to secure the downed lines and address a fuel spill.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the cause of the crash. It is unclear what led to the incident, which occurred just north of Whiteman Airport after the plane had been airborne for less than 10 minutes. No other injuries were reported. The parking lot was cordoned off as authorities continued their response.
(With inputs from agency)