Small Plane Crashes Near 5 Freeway In Newhall Pass; 2 Dead

NEWHALL (CBSLA) - Two people were killed Friday after a small plane went down in the Newhall Pass area near a landfill.

The crash occurred near the Golden State (5) Freeway north of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway sometime around 3 p.m., authorities said.

County fire crews responded to the area near Weldon Canyon Road and the 5 Freeway, but their efforts were initially hampered by rough terrain and poor visibility.

"Our deputies had to hike in and it took a little while to find the wreckage," sheriff's Lt. Ethan Marquez said.

The Mooney M20, which was registered to a man out of Valencia, disappeared from radar shortly after its takeoff from North Bend, Oregon.

The victims' identities have not yet been released.

Federal officials are investigating the cause of the crash.