2 Hurt as Plane Swerves Into Parked Helicopter
Asmall plane landing in gusty crosswinds at Agua Dulce Airpark hit a parked Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter Sunday, slightly injuring the two people aboard the plane, authorities said.
Cynthia Johnson, 21, of Burbank, and Steven Krattiger, 23, of Valencia, were taken by helicopter to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia, Fire Department Capt. Bob Burkhardt said.
Both were treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Seconds after landing at about 1:30 p.m., the small plane suddenly arched off the runway and traveled more than 200 feet to the helicopter, where five flight-crew members were eating lunch, helicopter pilot Rick Cearley said.
“I yelled twice for everyone to get out when I saw the plane coming,” said Cearley, who was outside the helicopter when the plane left the runway. The five escaped before the plane hit the helicopter, he said.
None of the crew members were injured.
“It was traveling pretty fast,” Cearley said. “I don’t understand how it happened other than there was a wind blowing across the runway on occasion.”
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