Pilot Of Home Built Plane Dies After It Crashes Near 14 Freeway In Santa Clarita
SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA) — The pilot of a home built single engine plane died after it crashed near Newhall Avenue and the 14 Freeway in Santa Clarita Saturday morning.
The crash occurred about five miles north of Van Nuys Airport, according to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 10:12 a.m., and reported at 10:28 a.m. that it was a single-engine plane.
"The plane is on fire," according to a fire department dispatcher. The department later reported that the aircraft has been completely destroyed. The fire was reported out by 11 a.m.
The pilot was the sole occupant inside the aircraft, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Witnesses in the area reported seeing plumes of smoke near the freeway, and a Sigalert was issued at about 10:30 a.m. closing the No. 3 lane of the northbound 14, along with the Newhall Avenue off-ramp.
The plane crashed about five miles north of Van Nuys Airport, according to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.
The aircraft was described as a "homebuilt TM-1 Thunder Mustang," Gregor said.
The plane was a homebuilt TM-1 Thunder Mustang, according to Gregor. It is believed the pilot was the only person on board. There are no reports of injuries to anyone or damage to any structure on the ground.
LA County Firefighters were dispatched to the scene and say no fire spread to the surrounding brush.
Witnesses in the area reported seeing plumes of smoke near the freeway, and a Sigalert was issued at about 10:30 a.m. closing the No. 3 lane of the northbound 14, along with the Newhall Avenue off-ramp.
The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB is the lead agency and it typically takes the NTSB a year or more to determine a probable cause of an accident.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)
