Small Plane Crashes in Torrance; One Dead, One Critical

Small Plane Crashes in Torrance; One Dead, One Critical

by Contributing Editor

A pilot was killed Thursday and his lone passenger critically injured in the crash of a small plane onto the roof of a commercial building east of Torrance Municipal Airport.

Police officers and firefighters were sent at 12:03 p.m. to the 25300 block of Crenshaw Boulevard after getting a report that a plane had crashed into a building, according to Sgt. Alexander Martinez of the Torrance Police Department.

“Upon arrival, officers were able to assist both (occupants) out of the plane,” according to a statement from Martinez. “The Torrance Fire Department treated one passenger on scene (who) was later transported to a local hospital for further treatment. Unfortunately, one male succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no reports of injuries to any of the employees or customers within the building.”

Preliminary information indicated that a single-engine Cessna 177 with two people aboard crashed shortly after departing via Runway 11R at the airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The identity of the fatally injured pilot was not immediately available, city public information officer Michael Smith said.

Personnel from the FAA responded to the scene, Martinez said.

A National Transportation Safety Board investigator was expected to arrive later, Smith said.

Both agencies will be handling the follow-up investigation, Martinez said.

“It does not appear that this investigation will impede the traffic conditions,” the sergeant said.

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All credit goes to Contributing Editor
Originally published on https://mynewsla.com