An airplane crashed Saturday near the northbound Antelope Valley (14) Freeway at Newhall Avenue in Santa Clarita, killing the pilot, the sole occupant inside the aircraft.
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.
A woman who knew the pilot and heard his distress call described him to KTLA5 as an experienced pilot. She said that he was complaining of visibility problems in the plane immediately prior to the crash.
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 departed from Van Nuys Airport,” he said. “I don’t know the destination.”
Caltrans said the off- and on-ramps to the northbound 14 Freeway at Newhall Avenue would be closed until at least 10 a.m. Sunday “due to police and FAA activity.”