Cal Fire. News- Small-plane crash in California kills 2

Friday, January 12, 2007

Cal Fire. News- Small-plane crash in California kills 2

Cessna Citation 525 jet bound for Long Beach, California, to pick up two passengers for a flight to Prescott, Arizona has crashed and burned in Van Nuy's Ca. A one-block area was evacuated because jet fuel fumes remained in the area. The jet was carrying a full load of 3,400 pounds of fuel.

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From CNN
Small-plane crash in California kills 2

• 5-person business jet had two people aboard, official says
• Pilot reported trouble before and after takeoff, spokeswoman says
• Plane was registered with Moonchild Aviation
• Flight plan shows destination was Long Beach

VAN NUYS, California (CNN) -- Two people were killed when a business jet crashed and caught fire Friday north of the Van Nuys, California, airport, officials said.

Airport spokeswoman Stacy Geere said the jet's pilot reported "some difficulties before and just after takeoff." The plane crashed about a half-mile north of a runway, she said.

The victims were not identified.

National Transportation Safety Board investigator Howard Plagens said the pilot did not declare an emergency but did radio the tower and ask to return to the airport.

The plane never climbed above about 200 feet, Plagens said.

The Cessna Citation 525 jet could hold up to five people, including a pilot and co-pilot, Plagens said. It crashed about 11 a.m. (2 p.m. ET).

Assistant Chief Tim Manning with the Los Angeles Fire Department said a one-block area was evacuated because jet fuel fumes remained in the area. The jet was carrying a full load of 3,400 pounds of fuel, he said. (Watch emergency workers examine wreckage Video)

He also said the crash cut power and telephone service to the area.

The airport continued normal operations, Manning said. Van Nuys averages nearly 500,000 takeoffs and landings a year, making it the busiest general aviation airport in the nation, The Associated Press reported.

A search based on the plane's tail number, N-77215, shows the plane was registered to Moonchild Aviation LLC. The twin-engine jet was operated by Sun Quest Executive Air Charter.

Sun Quest has been providing air charter services from the Los Angeles area since 1992, according to its Web site.

Plagens said the plane was bound for Long Beach, California, to pick up two passengers for a flight to Prescott, Arizona.

The small plane did not have cockpit voice and data recorders, commonly known as "black boxes," Plagens said

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Friday, January 12, 2007