NORTH LAS VEGAS (KSNV MyNews3) -- Two people escape a burning plane after it skidded off the runway and caught fire Wednesday afternoon at the North Las Vegas airport.
Investigators still aren't sure what went wrong. The airport plans to reopen the runway at 8 a.m. Thursday.
The crash created billowing smoke, which was visible from downtown Las Vegas.
A hard landing led to a change in direction, off the runway.
The small plane's pilot and passenger made it out unharmed, but their aircraft was swallowed by flames.
Work is under way to find out the crash's cause, an effort the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are undertaking.
Pilots tell News 3 say there are plenty of possibilities for the accident.
“So many things can go wrong that would be speculation landing gear failure, an engine failure something of that nature could cause a plane to change course,” said pilot Benjamin Sisely.
“I don't know if they lost an engine, I don't know if it was just hard landing, if they stalled,” said pilot Jaren Lynn. “I've got a little bit of time in an Aerostar, and they can be a little quirky, you know, in their flight characteristics.”
Despite the plane's damage, Lynn still calls the landing a success because no one got hurt.
