Disabled Plane Lands on Hospital Grounds

The pilot of a disabled plane made an emergency landing on the grounds of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Sepulveda on Sunday, authorities said.

Don Carter, 56, a helicopter pilot for the Los Angeles Fire Department, and Clark Cornwell, 52, a department battalion chief, were not injured, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Roger Dowis said. Cornwell’s Cessna 172 also escaped damage, Dowis said.

Carter, who said he was teaching Cornwell to fly, said his engine died after he took off from Van Nuys Airport. He said he considered returning to the airport but realized that he could not make it and decided to try to land at the hospital on Plummer Street.

While gliding toward a grass strip at the hospital, the plane lost altitude and Carter and Cornwell said they believed that they were going to hit the top of a pine tree but missed it when a gust of wind lifted them up.

Cornwell said he believed that a fuel line had ruptured. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident, Dowis said.