Small plane crashes in Compton neighborhood near airport

COMPTON, Calif. (CNS) -- A small plane crashed into a fence in a residential neighborhood in Compton on Sunday, but the pilot appeared to escape serious injury, authorities said.

The plane was carrying a banner and crashed into the fence along the wash at Oleander Avenue and Alondra Boulevard, a few blocks from Compton/Woodley Airport, a little after 1:30 p.m., Deputy French of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Compton station told City News Service.

French, who said the pilot was the only person aboard, added that the plane was taking off when it had to return to the airport after an unspecified mechanical malfunction.

He said the pilot appeared shaken up and might have been taken to a hospital as a precaution, but suffered no serious injury.

No one on the ground was injured.