Spectrum News 1: Rep. Cárdenas Calls for Comprehensive Safety Review of Whiteman Airport
LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Rep. Tony Cardenas has sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board requesting a comprehensive safety review of Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, his office announced Wednesday.
The letter follows multiple plane crashes, including a single-engine aircraft that was struck by a Metrolink commuter train last week.
"The regularity of these incidents raises serious concerns for the safety of the communities and families surrounding Whiteman Airport, as well as the pilots, personnel and staff that have access to or are located at the airport," wrote Cardenas, a Democrat whose 29th District includes Pacoima.
On Jan. 9, the pilot was the sole occupant on board, and he was pulled from the aircraft by Los Angeles police officers prior to the arrival of firefighters that afternoon, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.
The Los Angeles Police Department's valley bureau tweeted, "... Plane lost power, crashed onto tracks, #LAPD pulled pilot out just before approaching train collided with unoccupied plane."
The pilot was taken to a trauma center by LAFD paramedics to be treated for unspecified injuries.
No other injuries were reported involving passengers on the Metrolink Antelope Valley line commuter train, and there was no fire, according to the LAFD. A minor fuel spill was contained by firefighters.
That crash is already under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
The congressman also highlighted the November 2020 crash of a civil air patrol single-engine plane into parked cars on a residential street on approach to Whiteman. The pilot and sole occupant of the Cessna 172 was killed.
In audio obtained by a local news station shortly after the crash, the pilot is heard saying to an air traffic controller, "Whiteman tower CAP439, we've got a loss of engine power here. We're going to try and stretch it to the runway."
The tower responds, "Runway's clear and you are clear to land."
"Hopefully we'll make it," the pilot replied.
In 2018, another two people were killed in a crash, including a 12-year-old, according to the congressman. Reports at the time noted the boy was critically injured and fighting for his life and a flight instructor was killed when the plane went down shortly after takeoff. Paramedics said the 60-year-old man suffered cardiac arrest.
Source: Spectrum News 1