Pilot Killed in Van Nuys Plane Crash

A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff this afternoon from Van Nuys Airport, killing the pilot, the Los Angeles Fire Department has confirmed.

The crash occurred at 1:38 p.m. at 16145 W. Hart St. in Van Nuys, according to the fire department. The plane crashed into the side of a commercial building, landing in the parking lot. The pilot was the only person on board the plane.

The plane crashed just blocks from the San Diego (405) Freeway.

Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration said the plane is believed to be an Arion Lightning, a light-sport kit-type aircraft. He said the pilot was apparently performing "touch-and-go" practice maneuvers at Van Nuys Airport when the crash occurred.

Desmond Shaw, an airborne traffic reporter for KNX Newsradio and CBS2/KCAL9, said he witnessed the crash while heading to an assignment. He said on KNX that the pilot contacted the tower at Van Nuys Airport and reported hearing a banging noise, and tower personnel responded that part of his landing gear appeared to be loose.

The pilot said he would head back to the airport to land, but never made it, Shaw said.

"He circled back around and was about to make a descent onto (the runway) and all of a sudden lost altitude and crashed into the side of an industrial building," he said.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. PLEASE REFRESH THE SCREEN FOR UPDATES.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this story.