Video Captures Aftermath Of Deadly Plane Crash In Compton
COMPTON (CBSLA.com) — New details have been released about fiery crash involving a banner-towing airplane at the Compton/Woodley Airport Sunday.
Witnesses said the pilot had tried to hook the banner several times and after the fifth and final try, his plane took a nosedive onto a taxiway.
Cellphone video captured the aftermath of the crash in the 900 block of West Alondra Boulevard on Sunday morning.
The pilot appeared to have survived the crash but died after his plane caught fire.
"Not just any pilot can be a banner-tow pilot," said Robin Petgrave, who is a flight instructor at the Compton/Woodley Airport and chief flight instructor for Celebrity Helicopters.
He says the most dangerous part about towing a banner is when the pilot has to dive toward the ground, then pull up at the last minute to hook the cable that carries the banner.
"People when they joke, they say it's like you're deciding you're gonna commit suicide going up the ground had 5 feet above it, you change your mind," Petgrave said.
Sunday's crash isn't the only recent accident involving a banner-towing aircraft. In fact, just a day before, another plane had to make an emergency landing in the Los Angeles River.
Records show there have been 25 accidents involving planes carrying banners in California over the previous two decades, including eight in Los Angeles County alone.
But Petgrave says that's a very small number.
"It's because you have very skilled pilots," he said.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
