Small plane crashes into Pacoima parking lot; pilot hospitalized

Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to a small plane crash in the parking lot of an O'Reilly Auto Parts in Pacoima Monday morning. The Cessna 172 plane nose-dived into the parking lot off Van Nuys Boulevard just after 11 a.m., according to Sky5's Rich Prickett, who was over the scene at 11:30 a.m. The aircraft was seen flipped upside down, just feet from several parked cars. The pilot, reportedly a 70-year-old man, was extricated from the plane and transported to the hospital. His condition is unknown. It appears the pilot was the only person inside of the plane at the time of the crash. According to Prickett, the plane didn't hit any of the cars that were parked in the lot. However, it did hit a power pole, causing downed lines on Pala Avenue between Van Nuys Boulevard and Mercer Street. The aircraft is owned by Vista Aviation at Whiteman Airport and was reportedly being rented by the pilot at the time of the incident. The FAA released the following statement: "A Cessna 172 crashed in a parking lot in Pacoima, California, around 11:20 a.m. local time on Monday, April 20. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA will investigate." The Whiteman Airport Coalition also released a statement, saying in part, "Our thoughts are with the pilot, who was taken to the hospital after today’s accident. We are grateful that no one else was injured and that first responders moved quickly to secure the scene. Based on initial reports, a single-engine Cessna operating near Whiteman Airport struck power lines and landed in a nearby commercial parking lot. The aircraft is owned by Vista Aviation at Whiteman Airport and was being rented by the pilot at the time of the incident. This accident is now under investigation by the appropriate local and federal authorities. It’s important that the facts are allowed to come forward before any conclusions are drawn."