Two pilots killed as corporate jet crashes

A business jet loaded with fuel crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff from Van Nuys Airport on Friday morning, killing the two veteran pilots aboard and narrowly missing homes, officials said.

At least one witness said he saw an open baggage door on the left front side of the Cessna Citation shortly before the plane lost altitude and plowed into an open lot.

“The baggage compartment in the nose was wide open,” said Steve Purwin, a pilot with 25 years’ experience.

“There were no flames and no smoke, but the aircraft appeared to be in distress before it banked to the right and went behind the trees,” he said.

The plane, operated by SunQuest Executive Air Charter, went down half a mile from Van Nuys Airport in the 8500 block of North Hayvenhurst Avenue shortly before 11 a.m.

Officials for the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the accident.

Stacy Geere, an airport spokeswoman, said the plane was bound for Long Beach. She said the pilot made an emergency call to the control tower to report difficulties and was headed back to the airport when the plane crashed.

Workers at SunQuest in Van Nuys declined to provide details but confirmed that the two people aboard the plane were licensed pilots. A man who answered the phone at SunQuest on Friday referred calls to Van Nuys Airport.

The Los Angeles Fire Department evacuated a one-block area around the accident site as a safety precaution. The plane was carrying 3,400 pounds of fuel, a full load, and officials feared the fire at the crash site could threaten the neighborhood.

LAFD Assistant Chief Terrance J. Manning said damage was confined to a one-square-block area around the crash site, although power and phone service to the area were temporarily cut.

Steve Hofmann, who lives several doors down and across the street from the accident scene, said he heard a loud crackling, then saw the plane “spooling down” and a huge fireball lighted up the sky.

“It’s a very busy airport, but safety has never been a concern,” said Hofmann, who has lived on the street for eight years. “I’m not moving or anything, but any time someone loses their life, when it’s beyond their control and they can’t do anything about it, it’s tragic.”

“It’s very, very distressing,” said Hofmann’s wife, Michelle, who teared up as she recalled the scene. “I just feel terrible for the people on that plane and their families.”

Van Nuys Airport is operated by Los Angeles World Airports and is considered to be the world’s busiest general aviation airport.

andrew.blankstein

@latimes.com

amanda.covarrubias

@latimes.com