Plane crashes into Los Angeles neighbourhood

The FAA says the plane crash occurred during its final approach to the nearby airport

A small plane crashed into a neighbourhood in the San Fernando Valley community of Pacoima on Thursday.  

The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that the pilot of the plane died in the crash.  

There are no reports of any other injuries associated with the incident according to NBC 4 Los Angeles.

The plane crashed near Whiteman Airport.  

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Cessna 172 was on its final approach to the airport when it came down into a nearby street, damaging a yard and at least two cars.

No homes appear to have been damaged.

The FAA said the pilot was the one person in the plane at the time.  

Flames from the crash ignited a yard near the impact site as well as cars parked on the road.  

Fire crews managed to extinguish the flames at the site by noon local time.  

Local first responders initially called their response a "recovery operation" but later confirmed that the plane's only occupant had died.