10-22-02 Agua Dulce -- Three people were killed Sunday when their small plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Agua Dulce Airpark, authorities said.
The twin-engine Piper aircraft crashed in a remote area about two miles northeast of the airport and started a half-acre brush fire, said Los Angeles County fire spokesman Brian Jordan.
The cause of the crash north of Los Angeles was being investigated by the National Transportation and Safety Board, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Meloon.
The crash was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Meloon. It was not known what caused the crash and the National Transportation and Safety Board was investigating, Meloon said. Weather conditions were good, witnesses said.
The twin-engine Piper aircraft crashed about two miles northeast of the airport and sparked a half-acre brushfire, said Los Angeles County fire spokesman Brian Jordan. Firefighters who spotted smoke and went to the site of the crash found the victims inside the plane, Jordan said.
Officials have yet to determine the identities of the three victims, said Coroner's Office Lt. Robert Fierro.
David Aiello said he saw the pilot take off from the airport and noticed the plane had difficulty picking up speed.
"He wasn't gaining any speed, he wasn't going any faster and he got to the end and I thought maybe he would shut it down," Aiello said. "He lifted off and it looked like he was OK for awhile, and then it settled and then he turned left into the canyon there, and that's when he disappeared and boom, a puff of smoke," he said.
"I saw three people on the plane and I went to the crash site and it was just a ball of fire and (there was) nothing we could do," Aiello said.
Marla Stark, who was riding her horse in the canyon near the crash site, said she saw the plane flying low and swerving.
"The nose went down and he skidded, and then a huge ball of explosion," Stark said.