Pilot Killed When Single-Engine Plane Crashes In Compton
COMPTON (CBSLA.com) – Authorities say one person has been killed as a result of a small plane crash in Compton.
The single-engine aircraft crashed Sunday morning while taking off from the Compton/Woodley Airport in the 900 block of W. Alondra Boulevard.
According to witnesses, the small banner-towing airplane was trying to gain altitude after picking up a banner just before crashing.
"It was pretty horrific," Tehmon Edwards, a witness, said. "One of my buddies went down there to try to get him out. He was still alive before the fire."
"By then, it was already too late. The plane was completely engulfed in flames," another witness said.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor told the Associated Press only one person was on board.
Gregor described the plane as a single-engine Aviat A1.
The NTSB and FAA were expected to investigate.
The Compton/Woodley Airport has been shut down for the investigation.
Matt Lombardo of NJ.com first reported that the plane was supposed to carry a banner over a Dallas Cowboys practice in Oxnard paid for by Philadelphia Eagles fans chiding "We've Got DeMarco" referring to off-season signing of former Cowboys running back DeMarco Murry.
"We've Got DeMarco" started apparently as a GoFundMe page that raised money to fly the banner. Organizers would now like to raise money for the pilot's family. Eagles and Cowboys fans have both been contributing. For more about the fundraiser, click here.
