PACOIMA (CNS) – An investigation was continuing Wednesday, June 17, into the crash of a small plane at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima that sent its 77-year-old pilot to a hospital with minor injuries and renewed calls for a halt to operations at the facility due to safety concerns.
The downed single-engine plane was reported at 9:11 a.m. Tuesday in the area of 12653 W. Osborne St., just beyond the end of the embattled airfield’s runway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
The pilot was extricated and assessed at the scene, but was found to have only minor injuries.
The man initially declined to go to a hospital, but later accepted an ambulance ride to a hospital for further evaluation, an LAFD public information officer told reporters at the airport.
Crews reported a five-gallon fuel spill that was contained with no active fire.
About an hour after the crash, the Whiteman Airport Coalition released a statement that said the plane safely landed on the runway, but the landing gear did not deploy properly and the aircraft barreled through a perimeter fence before coming to a stop.
“The pilot was injured but was able to walk away from the aircraft,” the coalition statement said. “Thankfully, no one else was injured.
“Most importantly, the incident remained entirely on airport grounds and posed no danger to surrounding neighborhoods or nearby residents,” the statement continued.
The crash was the latest in a series of mishaps near Whiteman Airport that have raised concerns about the safety of the facility. LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who has been critical of the airport, called Tuesday for a halt to all operations at Whiteman “while a thorough investigation is conducted.”
“I do not have confidence that this federal government shares Los Angeles County’s sense of urgency for safety at Whiteman Airport,” Horvath said in a statement. “We have repeatedly called for answers and corrective actions – we are still waiting.”
She added, “This federal government must decide what it is willing to do to keep our communities near Whiteman Airport safe.”
The Whiteman Airport Coalition, which was formed in response to moves to close the airport, decried Horvath’s call and again accused her of long opposing modernization efforts and blocking the use of federal grants at the facility.
“Closing Whiteman Airport would have significant consequences, including impacts on local jobs, small businesses, aviation services and regional transportation infrastructure,” according to the group, which is made up of pilots, business owners and public safety advocates who aim to provide the public with information about the facility’s future. “It would also affect a public asset that serves pilots, students, first responders and supports public safety operations during brush fires and other emergencies.
“The Whiteman Airport Coalition calls on Supervisor Horvath to put politics aside and follow the recommendations of her own public works professionals and allow long-delayed safety and modernization projects to move forward.”
On April 20, a Cessna 172 small aircraft struck a power pole while en route to the airport, knocking down power lines and leaving the plane overturned in the parking lot of an auto parts store. The pilot survived but was critically injured.
That crash prompted the Board of Supervisors to approve a motion by Horvath requesting a report on immediate steps the county could potentially take to improve safety at the airport.
The ensuing report released last month made a series of recommendations, including quarterly pilot safety seminars and upgrades to runway pavement and markings, although the report stressed that runways and taxiways are currently “safe, functional and satisfy FAA maintenance and design standards.”
Public Works officials suggested rehabilitation of about 554,500 square feet of pavement, including crack-sealing, slurry sealing and new pavement markings.
“Ultimately, these improvements would enhance the airport’s primary aircraft movement areas and help ensure that runway and taxiway pavements and markings remain in a state of good repair consistent with FAA maintenance and design standards,” according to the report.
The project was estimated to cost about $5 million.
The cause of the April 20 crash remains under investigation by federal officials.
In early 2022, the Board of Supervisors voted to explore the process involved in seeking a closure of the airport, should the county opt to pursue it. In January of that year, a plane landed on train tracks in the area and was struck by a Metrolink train. In November 2020, a plane crashed in a neighborhood near the runway, killing a Civil Air Patrol pilot.
In April 2022, a pilot died when a Cessna crashed alongside the Foothill (210) Freeway in the Sylmar area.
But while some area residents have pushed for the airport’s closure, supporters of the facility have insisted it plays a critical role in local aviation and can only be shuttered by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) – not the county.
“As always, the appropriate authorities will investigate the incident and determine exactly what occurred,” the Whiteman Airport Coalition said in its statement following Tuesday’s crash landing. “Today’s events highlight the importance of continuing to invest in safety at Whiteman Airport. We support the county’s recommendation to pursue federal funding for improvements such as pilot education, airfield safety enhancement and community engagement. These are the kinds of investments that help strengthen safety for everyone who relies on the airport and lives nearby.”
LA City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, whose Seventh Council District includes the airport, slammed county officials Tuesday for not taking “meaningful” action regarding the airport thus far.
“This morning’s plane crash at Whiteman Airport reminds us of the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. It’s shameful that the county has taken no meaningful action to protect our community after these repeated accidents which threaten our community’s safety,” Rodriguez said in a statement issued shortly after the crash.
“I am thankful to the first responders who acted quickly and relieved that the pilot was safely extricated. I will continue to monitor this situation closely and continue to fight for accountability and the safety of Pacoima residents,” she added.