Phoenix, AZA small plane crash has killed the pilot and destroyed a building at Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix.
The plane crash occurred early Wednesday morning. The helicopter pilot for local news station 3TV, who was flying the helicopter near the scene of the accident at the time, reported seeing the plane take a nose dive into the side of the City Wide Pest Control building on the northwest side of the airport at around 6 am. A reporter on board the helicopter said it looked like the small plane was trying to land on Runway 7-Left, which is situated in such a way as to make landings difficult if a pilot experiences difficulties while on approach.
Details of the crash have not been released, but weather does not appear to have been a factor. Firefighters were at the scene shortly after the accident and had the fire out within 15 minutes.
The plane was a single engine Cirrus SR-22 four seater. The pilot was reportedly doing "touch and gos" to practice take-offs and landings when the crash occurred. Some witnesses reported hearing a sputtering sound from the aircraft.
The FAA and NTSB are launching an investigation into the crash.