One pilot has died and another escaped with minor injuries after two vintage planes collided in mid-air outside Los Angeles.
The fatal accident occurred Sunday afternoon near Lancaster, California, when a Yakovlev Yak 52 aircraft and a Nanchang CJ-6A aircraft collided. KNBC reported.
It is unclear which plane was carrying the pilot who died, but authorities say both were flying without passengers.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Authorities did not provide details on the condition of the surviving pilot.
One pilot was killed and another was lightly injured after two vintage planes collided in midair near Lancaster, California, on Sunday afternoon. Pictured here is one of the downed planes
The fatal accident occurred at around 1.20pm when a Yakovlev Yak 52 aircraft and a Nanchang CJ-6A aircraft collided. Authorities say one of the aircraft made an emergency landing.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
The two vintage planes were flying in the Lancaster area around 1:20 p.m. Sunday, “possibly performing an aerobatic maneuver,” when they collided and crashed, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told DailyMail.com.
One of the planes made an emergency landing near the intersection of E. Avenue G and 60 Street East, authorities said.
The other plane landed approximately 15 minutes away, near the intersection of W. Avenue F and 55th Street West.
“Both aircraft were painted to resemble World War II military aircraft. One had registration number N313YK. The other aircraft possibly had a partial registration number N5287,” the department added in its statement.
Aero Bureau investigators, the Homicide Bureau and the medical examiner have been notified of the incident.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NTSB investigators are traveling to the crash site and are expected to arrive on scene Monday.
Officials will document the scene and inspect the aircraft. The aircraft will then be recovered and transported to a “secure facility” for “further evaluation.”
DailyMail.com has contacted the NTSB, FAA and the Los Angeles County Fire Department for comment.