January 12, 2022

Cárdenas Calls on FAA to Investigate Whiteman Airport Safety Following Recent Plane Crashes

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY — Today Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) requesting a report examining the safety of Whiteman Airport in Pacoima. The request comes after several plane crashes have impacted the Northeast San Fernando Valley community, including the most recent incident in which an aircraft was struck by an oncoming commuter train. 

“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 Congressman Cárdenas. 

Specifically, the Congressman is requesting the FAA and NTSB create a report that includes but is not limited to the following:

  1. All aircraft incident reports and/or citations made by FAA regarding traffic in and out of the Whiteman Airport;
  2. Does the Whiteman Airport currently meet all federal, state and local government safety and operation standards as required by the FAA?
  3. Has the airport previously had any issues meeting federal safety and operation standards and regulations? If so, at what point, what were the concerns and how were they mitigated?
  4. Who is responsible for conducting safety trainings for those who have access to the airport and/or fly aircrafts? How are the safety trainings conducted and how often?
  5. How frequent do aircraft incidents and accidents occur on, in route, or around the community surrounding the Whiteman Airport since it was established?
  6. How does the flight incident data and frequency of accidents from the Whiteman Airport compare to other similar general aviation airports?
  7. Was there any communication between the pilot and Whiteman Airport during the recent accident on 1/9/22?
  8. Was there any communication between the Whiteman Airport and the Metrolink railway prior, during, or after the 1/9/22 incident?
  9. What processes and/or procedures occur after such incidents to ensure that all operational safety standards were met before, during, and after aircraft incidents?

“All airports have a responsibility to meet necessary airport safety and operation standards in order to fulfill required certification and ensure that all safety practices are met to the full extent as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and relevant state and local agencies. Fair and transparent investigations like these keep communities safe, result in safer skies, prevent loss of life and ensure airports meet the necessary safety standards,” continued Congressman Cárdenas. 

In November 2020, a small plane crashed into parked cars on a residential street while approaching Whiteman Airport. Unfortunately, the pilot and sole occupant was killed in the accident. Similarly, in 2018, another incident happened which killed two people, including a 12-year-old passenger. According to the NTSB’s database, 16 aviation accidents have taken place related to Whiteman Airport since 2009. 

The full letter can be read here and below:

Dear Administrator Dickson and Chairwoman Homendy:

I write to express my profound concern with the frequent plane crash occurrences at the Whiteman Airport located in Pacoima, California, including the most recent incident on January 9, 2022. This most recent plane crash at Whiteman Airport involved a small engine airplane that landed on the Metrolink Antelope Valley line train tracks near the airport, and as a result, the aircraft was struck by an oncoming commuter train.

In November 2020, a small plane crashed into parked cars on a residential street while approaching Whiteman Airport. Unfortunately, the pilot and sole occupant was killed in the accident. Similarly, in 2018, another incident happened which killed two people, including a 12-year-old passenger. 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. All airports have a responsibility to meet necessary airport safety and operation standards in order to fulfill required certification and ensure that all safety practices are met to the full extent as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and relevant state and local agencies.

Considering the harm these incidents have caused the community, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigate the most recent crash, I request a report that includes, but is not limited to, the following information and data:

  1. All aircraft incident reports and/or citations made by FAA regarding traffic in and out of the Whiteman Airport;
  2. Does the Whiteman Airport currently meet all federal, state and local government safety and operation standards as required by the FAA?
  3. Has the airport previously had any issues meeting federal safety and operation standards and regulations? If so, at what point, what were the concerns and how were they mitigated?
  4. Who is responsible for conducting safety trainings for those who have access to the airport and/or fly aircrafts? How are the safety trainings conducted and how often?
  5. How frequent do aircraft incidents and accidents occur on, in route, or around the community surrounding the Whiteman Airport since it was established?
  6. How does the flight incident data and frequency of accidents from the Whiteman Airport compare to other similar general aviation airports?
  7. Was there any communication between the pilot and Whiteman Airport during the recent accident on 1/9/22?
  8. Was there any communication between the Whiteman Airport and the Metrolink railway prior, during, or after the 1/9/22 incident?
  9. What processes and/or procedures occur after such incidents to ensure that all operational safety standards were met before, during, and after aircraft incidents?

I am pleased to know that the FAA and NTSB are pursuing an investigation of the January 9th crash and await the report. Fair and transparent investigations like these keep communities safe, result in safer skies, prevent loss of life and ensure airports meet the necessary safety standards.

I respectfully request that the FAA and NTSB answer our questions and investigate this matter with urgency. I look forward to a prompt response to these questions.

Sincerely,

TONY CÁRDENAS

Member of Congress

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