Small plane crashes near Whiteman Airport in Pacoima

A pilot was able to walk away after a small airplane veered off the runway at Whiteman Airport and crashed into a parking lot Tuesday morning. Crews from the Los Angeles Fire Department were dispatched to the incident near Osborne Street in Pacoima at about 9:11 a.m. Fire officials initially reported the downed plane was a Cessna, but KTLA’s Rich Pricket, reporting from Sky5 at 9:45 a.m., said it may have been an experimental aircraft. The pilot, who has not been identified, was injured in the crash but was able to walk away, according to a news release from the Whiteman Airport Coalition. Fire officials confirmed the pilot declined transport to a local hospital. Witnesses had thought the crash occurred as the plane was taking off, but updated information suggests the plane was landing. “Based on initial reports, the pilot safely landed on the runway, but the landing gear did not deploy properly,” WAC officials said in the news release. “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 Fire Department said some fuel leaked from the aircraft, but it was fully contained and there was no active fire. “As always, the appropriate authorities will investigate the incident and determine exactly what occurred,” the WAC news release read.