A pilot has died and another escaped with minor injuries after two vintage planes collided in mid-air just outside Los Angeles.
The fatal crash occurred early Sunday afternoon near Lancaster, California when a Yakovlev Yak 52 plane and Nanchang CJ-6A aircraft collided, KNBC reported.
It is unclear which plane was carrying the pilot who died, but authorities say that both were flying without any passengers.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a probe into the incident. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Authorities did not provide details about the condition of the surviving pilot.
A pilot has died and another escaped with minor injuries after two vintage planes collided in mid-air near Lancaster, California on Sunday afternoon. Pictured is one of the downed planes
The fatal crash occurred around 1.20pm when a Yakovlev Yak 52 plane and Nanchang CJ-6A aircraft collided. Authorities say that one of the planes made a crash landing
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a probe into the incident. The cause of the crash remains under investigation
The two vintage planes were flying in the area of Lancaster around 1.20pm Sunday, ‘possibly doing an aerobatic maneuver’, when they collided and crashed, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told DailyMail.com.
One of the planes made a crash landing near the intersection of E. Avenue G and 60 Street East, authorities say.
The other plane landed roughly 15 minutes away near the intersection of W. Avenue F and 55th Street West.
‘Both planes were painted to resemble World War II military aircraft. One plane had a tail number of N313YK. The other plane possibly had a partial tail number of N5287,’ the department added in its statement.
Aero Bureau investigators, the Homicide Bureau and the coroner have been notified about the incident.
Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB are travelling to the crash site and expected to arrive on scene Monday.
Officials will document the scene and inspect the aircraft. Afterwards, the airplanes will be recovered and transported to a ‘secure facility’ for ‘further evaluation’.
DailyMail.com has approached the NTSB, FAA and LA County Fire Department for comment.
