Pilot found dead after Chinese training airplane crashes near Porter Ranch

PORTER RANCH, Calif. (FOX 11) - A small plane crashed in the Santa Susana Mountains about two miles north of Porter Ranch on Saturday, and the man who was the sole occupant was found dead inside, authorities said.

The crash was reported at 2:40 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said. It was near Limekiln Canyon Road and Sesnon Boulevard, Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Cheryl Sims said.

The plane was described as a privately owned, propeller-driven fixed-wing, two-seater aircraft, Humphrey said.

An LAFD paramedic was lowered from a helicopter to the debris field and found the pilot dead, he said.

The plane was a Nanchang China CJ6 aircraft, according to FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer.

The cirumstances of the crash were unknown, Kenitzer said. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will invesigate.

An LAFD paramedic was lowered from a helicopter to the debris field and found the pilot dead. There was no fire and no other injuries were reported, Humphrey said.

The crash scene turned out to be in the Los Angeles County Fire Department's jurisdiction.

The Nanchang CJ6 is a Chinese basic trainer aircraft built starting in 1958 for the People's Liberation Army Force, according to Wikipedia

CNS contributed to this story.