Small plane crashes in backyard of Compton home; pilot injured

COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- The pilot of a single-engine plane was injured after crashing in the backyard of a home in Compton Wednesday afternoon.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said the plane crashed in back of a home in the 1800 block of Reeves Street around 2:40 p.m. The pilot suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including a deep cut to his left eye.

No one else was injured in the crash, and the home was not damaged.

The plane took off from Compton/Woodley Airport and was in the air for a few moments before it experienced engine failure, according to Compton Interim Fire Chief Brian Batiste.

The pilot attempted to land the plane on Central Avenue but ended up making an emergency landing in the backyard of the home.

A neighbor heard the crash and rushed to help the pilot.

"So I see the aero plane like leaking gas, so I say, 'Wait a minute, I don't want to get too close 'cause it's going to catch fire,'" Manual Lopez said. "I open the door and said, 'You OK? You still alive?' and the guy answers. I said, 'Don't worry I will help you to come out from the aero plane...'"

When paramedics arrived, they treated the pilot at the scene before transporting him to a local hospital.

The National Transportation Safety Board responded to the scene and will conduct an investigation as well as oversee the removal of the plane from the residence.

This is the second plane crash in Compton in less than two months. The pilot of a plane pulling an advertising banner was killed when his plane burst into flames after crashing at one of the Compton/Woodley Airport runways in August.