A Cessna 152 crashed after a mid-air collision with a North American T-28B Trojan. One pilot was killed and the another one injured
Compton Fire crews and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department responded just around 6:52 p.m. to the scene, where one plane – a single-engine Cessna 152 – had caught fire.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a single-engine North American T28 collided with the Cessna on runway 25L.
The small plane was destroyed and burned up in the crash. One pilot was apparently ejected from one of the aircraft and killed.
Pieces of the aircraft are littering the runway and the wing landed about 100 yards away from the main fuselage.
Witnesses say it appeared the Cessna had already landed and was taxiing when the other pilot, possibly having trouble with the setting sun, also tried landing on the same runway and crashed into it.
#Breaking Abt 6:52pm #Compton #LASD deputies at Plane Crash at Compton Airport tarmac re: small Cessna type #Aircraft Collision. Compton Fire Dept, #CHP on scene @mridleythomas @ComptonLASD
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) March 14, 2019
The second victim was taken to an area hospital in unknown condition.
A pilot at the scene described what he heard.
“Heard this unbelievable explosion, and came out to see what happened. I didn’t know what it was. I mean, it just sounded like the loudest explosion you could’ve imagined and came out to just a fireball of activity out on the runway,” said witness Billy Jackson.
The collision will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA, which sent an inspector to the scene.
It’s unclear why the collision occurred and whether both people were on board.
