At Least Three Fatally Injured After Airplane Blew A Tire On Landing

A Cessna Citation apparently blew a tire on landing at Santa Monica Airport (KSMO) in California Sunday, causing the airplane to skid off the runway and impact a hangar. At least three people believed to be aboard the Citation were fatally injured in the post-accident fire.

The FAA said the accident occurred about 1820 PDT Sunday. The hangar that was struck collapsed onto the airplane, causing the fire which spread to two adjacent hangars, according to television station KCBS. An unknown number of aircraft were damaged or destroyed by the fire.

Reuters reports that at least four people were fatally injured in the accident, according to the NTSB.

Van McKenny of the National Transportation Safety Board said that it did not appear that anyone on the ground had been injured.

The hangar what was destroyed in the accident was partially owned by filmmaker and pilot Tony Bill, who was a producer on the 1974 Academy Award winning film "The Sting."

McKenny said Tuesday that a crane would be required to pull the roof of the hangar off the airplane. The structure would have to be stabilized before an inspection of the aircraft could begin.

The airplane was reportedly owned by Mark Benjamin, the CEO of Morley Builders. It is believed that he and his son Luke, a Senior Project  Engineer with the company, were on board at the time of the accident, according to a statement released by the company.

The flight had originated in Hailey, ID. Morley Builders vice president Charles Muttillo said those on board had been returning from a family vacation.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov