A 77-year-old pilot crashed through an airport fence and walked away The pilot suffered only minor injuries after his landing gear failed at Whiteman Airport on Tuesday morning.

Flying is a dream for many, but a split-second mechanical failure can turn a routine landing into a fight for survival. That is exactly what happened to a senior pilot in Pacoima this week.

WHAT HAPPENED

A 77-year-old pilot tried to land his small plane at Whiteman Airport on Tuesday morning. As he came in, the landing gear did not work.

The plane hit the ground and kept sliding. It smashed through an outer fence and finally stopped in a nearby parking lot on airport land.

Flight teacher Allen Kahn and others ran to the crash site. They found the pilot bleeding from a cut on his head but able to talk. They gave him water and kept him calm until help arrived.

What the evidence shows

• The crash occurred on Tuesday morning at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima.
• The pilot is 77 years old and survived with minor head injuries.
• The plane went through an outer fence and stopped in a parking lot.
• Witnesses and the pilot said the landing gear did not come down.
• The small plane suffered major structural damage.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

This crash brings up a larger issue that local residents know all too well. How safe are small neighborhood airports like Whiteman?

This is not the first crash here. People who live nearby are getting worried about their homes and safety.

THE OTHER SIDE

Some flight groups argue that Whiteman Airport is a vital hub for training and local jobs. They believe shut downs are too extreme for accidents that do not happen often.

But with several crashes in recent years, the argument to keep flying without a deep check seems weak to local leaders.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath wants all flights at the airport to stop right now. She is asking the federal government to step in and check the safety of the site.

If flights stop, it could impact local flight schools and pilots who use the runway every day.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

Why did the landing gear fail to deploy during the landing?

• Will the federal government agree to pause flights at Whiteman Airport?
• What steps will the airport take to protect the neighborhood from future crashes?