A small plane clipped a high-voltage power line in Pacoima Monday, knocking out electricity in the area and leaving the pilot in critical condition.
The downed aircraft was reported at 11:08 a.m. in the area of 10800 N. San Fernando Road, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The plane wound up flipped over the parking lot of an auto parts store.
High-voltage power lines were down nearby in the area of Ralston Avenue and Van Nuys Boulevard, according to the LAFD’s Jamie Stewart.
An LAFD spokesman told KTLA5 at the scene that the plane, a Cessna, clipped a high-voltage power line, and the pilot was found unconscious outside the plane when crews arrived.
The patient was believed to be a man around 70 years old, and he was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
The downed power lines led to widespread electricity outages in the area, and many traffic lights were affected, creating gridlock on some roadways.
The location is just a block or two from Whiteman Airport, and a firefighter at the scene said the pilot may have been attempting a landing at the small airfield.
Some residents in the Pacoima area have been pushing for years for the closure of Whiteman Airport, citing safety concerns and air and noise pollution.
In 2022, the county Board of Supervisors voted to explore the process involved in seeking a closure of the airport, should the county opt to pursue it. That vote followed back-to-back plane crashes in consecutive months, including one that killed a Civil Air Patrol pilot and another that landed on train tracks and was struck by a Metrolink train.
A group known as the Whiteman Airport Coalition that supports the airfield issued a statement Monday expressing concern for the pilot and asking for patience while the crash is investigated.
“Events like this are taken very seriously,” according to the coalition. “Whiteman Airport operates under strict federal safety standards, with rigorous requirements for pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and flight operations. It’s also important to understand that having a controlled, professionally managed airport helps reduce risk and protect the surrounding community.
“Whiteman Airport continues to play a critical role in public safety, supporting emergency response, law enforcement, wildfire operations, and workforce training. We understand this raises concerns, and we are committed to keeping the community informed as more information becomes available.”