Investigators Seek Cause of Fatal Plane Crash

PACOIMA —  The plane that crashed into two homes last week shortly after takeoff, killing two passengers, did not have a history of mechanical problems and there were no safety complaints about the pilot, who operated a business out of Whiteman Airport.

Pilot Michael Boolen, 44, of North Hills, remained in critical condition at County-USC Medical Center with second- and third-degree burns over about 30% of his body, said Adelaida De La Cerda, a hospital spokeswoman.

The identities of two men who died in the crash have not been determined, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. Officials were seeking dental records to make positive identifications.

Plane owners are required to register any aircraft mechanical problems with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The plane that Boolen was piloting--a 1950 single-engine Ryan Navion owned by Peter Parkhill of Mount Shasta--had not had unusual mechanical problems up to a year ago, according FAA records. More current information was not immediately available.

The accident occurred Thursday about 6:30 p.m. on Hoyt Street in the neighborhood just north of Whiteman Airport. Two houses were badly damaged by the impact and subsequent fire. Despite a family of six in one house, however, no one on the ground was injured.

Boolen is a certified flight instructor who had operated Mike Boolen’s Pilot Learning Center at the airport for about a year, said Henry Kras of COMARCO, a private company contracted to operate the county’s five airports. Kras said there had been no complaints about Boolen’s operation.

“We certainly did not see anything to indicate this would happen,” Kras said.

Kras said he did not know the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash, which is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Tim Pile, an FAA spokesman, said Boolen held a commercial license to operate single- and multi-engine planes. In addition to instructing, the license also allowed Boolen to work commercially, such as for sightseeing companies.

Boolen also had a license that allowed him to fly using only electronic equipment in the cockpit without having to visually assess the flying conditions, Pile said.

On Monday, investigators had not determined the circumstances surrounding the crash. It would be six weeks at least before a preliminary cause for the accident could be determined, said Tom Armstrong, a NTSB investigator.

Meanwhile, the families displaced by the crash were uncertain about their future living arrangements.

“It’s rough,” said George Leal, who, along with his wife, three daughters and son, is staying at a sister’s house not far from his damaged home. “Right now we don’t have many options.”

He said his insurance company would cover the damage to the house but not the family’s personal property.

Said Veronica Reynoso, who lived at the other home with her sister and both of their children: “We’re still trying to find a place to live.”