Cessna crashes onto tracks; struck by Metrolink train

[TaseMeBro]

Happened in Pacoima, near Los Angeles. Cessna crashed onto Metrolink tracks. Pilot injured, but removed from acft moments before train strike.

News Article:

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/1-...crashes-near-whiteman-airport-in-sylmar-lafd/
Bodycam:

 

[caravanman]

Passenger train in Los Angeles hits light aircraft which had crashed on the tracks approaching an airport

Train Crashes into Plane - Whiteman Airport Pacoima, California [WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE] - YouTube

The extraordinary thing is that several police cars had come out to the aircraft accident, taped off adjacent streets (as can be seen), and were assisting the pilot out of the aircraft, yet nothing was done to stop the railway, the barriers came down and the train came through at high speed.

Pilot rescued from oncoming train after emergency landing - CNN Video

 

[TinCan782]

Happened to catch that on the scanner when the Metrolink dispatcher responded to the engineer calling in with an emergency.
The dispatcher was trying to understand what happened ("Your train struck an airplane?").

 

[TinCan782]

Passenger train in Los Angeles hits light aircraft which had crashed on the tracks approaching an airport

Train Crashes into Plane - Whiteman Airport Pacoima, California [WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE] - YouTube

The extraordinary thing is that several police cars had come out to the aircraft accident, taped off adjacent streets (as can be seen), and were assisting the pilot out of the aircraft, yet nothing was done to stop the railway, the barriers came down and the train came through at high speed.

Pilot rescued from oncoming train after emergency landing - CNN Video

In another news rerport, an officer did state they attempted to contact Metrolink to stop all trains. The police station was only a couple blocks from the crash site.

 

[UserNameRequired]

Happened to catch that on the scanner when the Metrolink dispatcher responded to the engineer calling in with an emergency.
The dispatcher was trying to understand what happened ("Your train struck an airplane?").

Is this scanner discussion recorded or captured anywhere?

 

[joelkfla]

That's some amazing video! The cops got clear about 5 seconds before the train hit.

Hats off to their dedication & courage.

 

[Dutchrailnut]

Darn so that's why they have those blue crossing reporting signs.

 

[LookingGlassTie]

Now that's awesome!

 

[WWW]

One brief clip out of the video shows the train operators cab window smashed - other wise the usual dings of hitting
an immoveable object with an irresistible force - - -
Did not seen any commentary about how far down the track the train stopped to access what happen ?

WOW this was something out of the ordinary -
Every day you hear see or read about train strikes car truck semi even a school bus farm implement - but ! an aero-plane Really !

 

[TinCan782]

Darn so that's why they have those blue crossing reporting signs.

ABC News/The Associated Press
January 10, 2022, 12:51 PM:
“I had requested Metrolink to cease all train activity, but apparently that didn’t happen,” Sgt. Joseph Cavestany told CBSN Los Angeles.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/la-cops-pull-pilot-plane-moments-train-hits-82179445The timing of that request was not stated.

 

[Dutchrailnut]

how did he request it ?? wrong number , not dispatcher , poor training ? NTSB will let us know.

 

[moosejunky99]

That is some crazy video... glad they got the pilot out just in time...

 

[Devil's Advocate]

The extraordinary thing is that several police cars had come out to the aircraft accident, taped off adjacent streets (as can be seen), and were assisting the pilot out of the aircraft, yet nothing was done to stop the railway, the barriers came down and the train came through at high speed.

Reports I read indicate the police only had about five minutes to work with. That may simply not be enough time to radio nearby trains and setup flares. The impact did launch some potentially lethal debris toward some bystanders but they got the pilot out just in the nick of time.

“I think this guy needs to buy a lottery ticket because he pretty much cheated death twice within 10 minutes,” Officer Robert Sherock said.

 

[Cal]

Apparently when they got hold of Metrolink they didn’t believe them when they said a plane was on the tracks. Either way, something needs improvement, whether it be the system, the officers training, or something else.

 

[zephyr17]

After decades, the railroads finally get a small measure of revenge on airplanes

 

[Barb Stout]

Those officers should get some very public commendations and awards.

The pilot should be re-named Rasputin. BTW, there is someone here on AU that goes by Rasputin. What's your story behind that handle?

 

[UserNameRequired]

Review from a youtuber pilot based at KWHP:

 

[Ryan]

That's a great video. Talk about really, really bad luck follows by really, really good luck.

 

[BLNT]

My first thought was how long after the plane went down did the train come barreling through?

Perhaps they need to install some sort of alarm/panic button at crossings for such events (not only planes, lol). I'd love to have that contract!

 

[tgstubbs1]

My first thought was how long after the plane went down did the train come barreling through?

Perhaps they need to install some sort of alarm/panic button at crossings for such events (not only planes, lol). I'd love to have that contract!

Maybe some kind of sensors could activate a bright strobe light at the crossing.

 

[WWW]

Officers pull pilot from crashed plane seconds before train slams into it (nbcnews.com)

Whiteman Airport:

Google Maps

It happened right next door to a police station -
Police had time to stop traffic and put out TAPE "Do Not Cross - Police Scene" -
Reported that First Responders (police) had about 5 minutes to work with -
Train must have been barreling along at track speed (greater than 60 mph) -
5 minutes - 60 mph = 5 miles away -
Can't judge (fix) the speed of the train but it was really moving in the video -
Train could have stopped before reaching that intersection -
"IF" *** alerted in time -
5 miles even 3 miles is enough space -
It wasn't like a freight train with a great deal of enertia of movement potential of derailing cars emergency braking

Calling police dispatch to call railroad dispatcher certainly was of no use - too much time wasted connecting -
Block signals would not be triggered in time if there were any signals at all -
Only solution direct radio communications with the train - something that needs to be worked on - car truck or aero-plane collisions imminent -

And then if the police or other first responders had not been there the injured if able bodied at all to effect the stop the train communications -
In this case the injured pilot needed a whole lot of assistance to be removed from the plane -

If someone was able to see the train coming at the speed it was doing I doubt that it could have stopped in time - flares roman candles etc.

There was cell phone video of the train after striking the remains of the plane - causing a piece of wreckage to fly near the cell phone person
who had to duck to avoid it and a few frames of video of the locomotive with the operators window smashed - really smashed.

No reports or other data about how far down the track the train traveled before stopping

It will be thoroughly investigated but what will be done about these not everyday accidents ?

A plane totally destroyed - a locomotive dinged up - local railroad infrastructure needing a few repairs -
BEST part no fatalities.

 

[jis]

Crossings equipped with intrusion detection tied in with PTC would be able to automatically warn and activate slowing down of the train. As to whether it can be brought to a safe stop before hitting the plane is another matter.

Of course the plane could have potentially crashed on the track far removed from the crossing. It would probably be cost prohibitive to install intrusion detection systems along the entire length of an open track.

Installing a panic button would be an invitation to motorists who wish to hurry up to hit the button and then drive across. It minimally has to be protected by some means allowing access to it only by authorized folks or some such. Or perhaps like a fire alarm where one has to break something to get to it, though that would only act as a minor deterrent for a very insistent motorist I'd imagine.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Perhaps they need to install some sort of alarm/panic button at crossings for such events (not only planes, lol). I'd love to have that contract!

Let truckers and commercial operators pay for it since they represent the main threat to trains. If trucking companies had to repair or replace every train they damaged or destroyed we might still have full length trains running today.

 

[John Santos]

Crossings equipped with intrusion detection tied in with PTC would be able to automatically warn and activate slowing down of the train. As to whether it can be brought to a safe stop before hitting the plane is another matter.

Of course the plane could have potentially crashed on the track far removed from the crossing. It would probably be cost prohibitive to install intrusion detection systems along the entire length of an open track.

Installing a panic button would be an invitation to motorists who wish to hurry up to hit the button and then drive across. It minimally has to be protected by some means allowing access to it only by authorized folks or some such. Or perhaps like a fire alarm where one has to break something to get to it, though that would only act as a minor deterrent for a very insistent motorist I'd imagine.

Many traffic lights have cameras now... Is this common at protected grade crossings? Hard to stop, get out of your car, walk over to the pole or sign, pull the handle, walk back to the car, wait for the crossing gate to go up, and then drive on without appearing several times on such a camera.
If pulling the emergency stop released a dye package (like they put in the bank robbers' bag of loot, at least in TV and movies), it would be impossible for the culprit to deny responsibility. On the other hand, if it was really an emergency (e.g. driving someone to the hospital or there was a vehicle stuck on the tracks), having the dye all over your clothes and hands would be a badge of honor.

 

[jis]

It should be understood though that just pulling the handle does not guarantee that you'd not get hit by a train. Only reduces the chances considerably.

And it still does not solve the problem of a plane somehow crashing on a track away from a road crossing thus equipped.