Malibu Man ID'd as Pilot in Fatal Van Nuys Plane Crash

VAN NUYS, CA — The pilot killed in the crash of a small plane into an industrial building just east of Van Nuys Airport was identified Thursday as a 78- year-old Malibu man.

The plane slammed into the concrete structure around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hart Street and Woodley Avenue, authorities said.

Arthur Newman died at the scene, the coroner's office reported. An autopsy was pending.

Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot was apparently performing "touch-and-go" practice maneuvers at Van Nuys Airport when the crash occurred.

Desmond Shaw, an airborne traffic reporter for KNX Newsradio and CBS2/KCAL9, said he witnessed the crash while heading to an assignment. He said on KNX that the pilot contacted the tower at Van Nuys Airport and reported hearing a banging noise. Tower personnel responded that part of his landing gear appeared to be loose.

The pilot said he would head back to the airport to land, but never made it, Shaw said.

"He circled back around and was about to make a descent onto (the runway) and all of a sudden lost altitude and crashed into the side of an industrial building," Shaw said.

— City News Service, photo via Shutterstock