Pilot dead after small homebuilt plane crashes in California

Los Angeles July 15 (IANS) A small "homebuilt" plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the San Gabriel Valley Airport Southern California in west US on Friday killing the pilot.

The pilot was the only person on board. He was declared dead at the scene once fire and rescue personnel arrived at the airport formerly known as El Monte Airport according to the City News Service Xinhua reported.

The plane was a "homebuilt Single-Engine Jansen Pazmany PL-2" that crashed on airport property while departing from runway around 9.30 a.m according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

FAA registry information showed the aircraft was built in 1979 and had a valid certificate issued in July 2014.

The cause of the crash will be investigate by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.

--IANS
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