SIMI VALLEY : 2 Hurt When Plane Strikes Their Vehicle

The pilot of a light private plane that ran out of gas made an emergency landing on a Simi Valley street and slammed into a car carrying two Northern California tourists, Simi Valley police said Sunday.

Both tourists suffered moderate cuts and bruises but the 18-year-old student pilot was uninjured.

Pilot Scott Howard of Big Bear left Palm Springs Airport about 7:30 p.m. Saturday to return to Big Bear, but became lost and ended up in Simi Valley, police said.

After running out of fuel, Howard managed to land the Cessna 172 safely on the northbound side of Stearns Street, just south of Cochran Street about 10:20 p.m.

But the aircraft struck an oncoming car driven by Janett Kline of Concord, who was traveling with her husband, Harvey Kline.

Both Janett Kline, 32, and Harvey Kline, 41, suffered moderate cuts and bruises and were transported to Simi Valley Hospital. She was treated and later released, and her husband was listed in stable condition Sunday, hospital officials said.

“It’s fortunate that more serious injuries or death were avoided,” Simi Valley Police Sgt. Arch Morgan said.

The plane caught fire after striking the Klines’ car, but the blaze was extinguished by officers and bystanders at the scene, police said.

Howard, who was not injured in the incident, was described Sunday as an excellent pilot by officials at the Aero Haven Flying School in Big Bear, where he has been enrolled for several months.

Howard could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.