Pilot killed in small-plane crash at Fullerton Municipal Airport
The pilot of the small plane that crashed Thursday evening at Fullerton Municipal Airport died in the accident, authorities said.
The pilot was the only person on board, a spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration said. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.
The twin-engine, six-seat Beechcraft Duke crashed under unknown circumstances while departing from Runway 24.
The plane was traveling about 80 mph and had just left the ground when it veered left, crashed and exploded, Fullerton Fire Department Division Chief Kathy Schaeffer said at a news conference.
The pilot had filed a flight plan from Fullerton to Heber City Municipal Airport in Utah.
The crash was reported about 7:50 p.m., KTLA-TV Channel 5 reported.
Fullerton Airport is the only general aviation airport in Orange County and is adjacent to the 5 and 91 freeways.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
City News Services contributed to this report.
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