By the time Santa Paula police and fire personnel arrived on scene, LaSalle was out of the aircraft and inspecting the damage to the Cessna, said AFC Araiza.“All the fire department did was shut down the gasoline and turn off the mechanical switches,” to prevent fire, he added. “The plane just nosed into that wall at the end of the runway,” knocking a segment of blocks out and exposing rebar.Although a Ventura County Sheriff’s search and rescue helicopter was dispatched to the scene it was canceled as not needed on scene.“It wasn’t a major incident,” noted AFC Araiza. “It’s been a long time since we’re had a serious accident at the airport and we’d like to keep it that way. . .”
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Airplane runs into wall after landing
February 27, 2002
Breezy weather could be a contributing factor to Cessna mishap
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesBreezy weather could have been a contributing factor to a mishap that occurred at Santa Paula Airport when a landing Cessna slammed into the west wall at the end of the runway on Friday.According to Santa Paula Acting Fire Chief Rick Araiza, the incident occurred shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 when pilot John LaSalle of Hollywood attempted to land at the airport, located between Santa Maria Street and the Santa Clara River.LaSalle’s white 2000 Cessna 172, registered to LaSalle & La Salle of Oxnard, “landed downwind and ran out of runway,” according to a witness, and LaSalle was unable to stop the plane before it hit the block wall head on. “There was just enough light wind to give him an assist,” into the wall, the witness added.Although the Cessna received nose and wing damage LaSalle, who was alone in the plane, was not injured.
