A small plane crashed at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima after landing gear failure, injuring the 77-year-old pilot. The fifth major incident since 2020 has renewed calls from Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Councilmember Monica Rodriguez to close the airfield.
A small plane skidded off the runway at in on Tuesday morning, crashing through a perimeter fence and into an airport parking lot. The incident injured the and immediately reignited a heated debate over whether the county-owned airfield should remain open.
The crash occurred at approximately 9:11 a.m. near 12653 W. Osborne St., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The pilot was extricated from the aircraft and assessed at the scene. He initially declined hospital transport but later accepted an ambulance ride for further evaluation, an LAFD public information officer told reporters.
The Whiteman Airport Coalition said the pilot safely landed on the runway but the landing gear did not deploy properly. The aircraft then barreled beyond the runway area, passed through a perimeter fence, and came to rest in a parking lot on airport property.
"The pilot was injured but was able to walk away from the aircraft. Thankfully, no one else was injured," the coalition said in a statement. "Most importantly, the incident remained entirely on airport grounds and posed no danger to surrounding neighborhoods or nearby residents."
Crews reported a five-gallon fuel spill that was contained with no active fire, according to the fire department. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been notified, and an investigation is pending.
This crash marks at least the fifth high-profile aircraft accident involving Whiteman Airport since 2020, according to reporting by the Los Angeles Daily News and Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, whose Third District includes Pacoima, called for all flight operations at Whiteman to cease immediately while a thorough investigation is conducted.
"I do not have confidence that this federal government shares Los Angeles County's sense of urgency for safety at Whiteman Airport," Horvath said in a statement. "We have repeatedly called for answers and corrective actions. We are still waiting."
Horvath has sent multiple letters to the FAA and the NTSB since April urging the agencies to investigate recent crashes, review pilot training, and temporarily halt operations pending a broader federal safety review.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, whose Seventh District includes Pacoima, also renewed her call for stronger action.
"This morning's plane crash at Whiteman Airport reminds us of the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result," Rodriguez said. "It's shameful that the County has taken no meaningful action to protect our community after these repeated accidents which threaten our community's safety."
Los Angeles County Public Works, which manages Whiteman Airport, said it supports Horvath's call for enhanced FAA oversight and aviation safety programs. The department said Whiteman continues to meet applicable federal and state safety standards.
A county report released last month recommended several safety improvements, including:
The project was estimated to cost about $5 million, according to the report. The report also stressed that runways and taxiways are currently "safe, functional and satisfy FAA maintenance and design standards."
Even if Los Angeles County wanted to shut down Whiteman Airport, it could not do so unilaterally. The FAA said airports that accept federal funding remain subject to Grant Assurances requiring them to operate in a safe and serviceable manner.
"The FAA has not received a request from Los Angeles County to close Whiteman Airport," the agency said in a statement to the Southern California News Group.
Los Angeles County accepted federal funding, including money used to acquire land for Whiteman Airport. The airport must remain open unless the FAA releases the county from those obligations.
Anthony Brickhouse, an aerospace safety consultant with nearly three decades of aviation safety experience, said determining whether an airport is unsafe requires more than counting accidents.
"There are processes that we use when it comes to risk assessment," Brickhouse said. "We don't just have an accident or have a series of accidents and make a snap decision based on that."
Brickhouse said safety specialists compare airports with similar facilities, examining aircraft operations, accident rates, and the circumstances of individual incidents before determining whether a broader systemic problem exists.
The Whiteman Airport Coalition said the airport handles roughly 125,000 aircraft operations each year while supporting flight training, emergency response, local businesses, and workforce development.
Estevan Roth, a longtime Pacoima resident and coalition member based at Whiteman since 2014, said the airport's level of activity should be considered when evaluating its safety record.
"It's important to put the number of operations in context when we talk about accidents," Roth said.
Community advocates who have pushed for the airport's closure argue that repeated crashes near homes and businesses do little to ease concerns, regardless of operation counts. They have also cited aircraft noise and environmental issues as ongoing problems for Pacoima residents.
The FAA investigation into Tuesday's crash is ongoing. The NTSB has also been notified. No timeline has been given for when findings will be released.
This article was generated with AI assistance.