Chatsworth, CA - Three Dead, Including a Bystander, After NBC Los Angeles News Helicopter Crashes Near Mason Avenue

Chatsworth, California (September 15, 2026) - A news helicopter covering an unrelated Metro bus crash went down just before 7 p.m. and burst into flames in a parking lot near a self-storage facility on the 9100 block of Mason Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Three people were killed, including a person who was on the ground nearby, the station and city officials said.

The aircraft, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2, was operated by Angel City Air and affiliated with NBC Los Angeles and its Spanish-language sister station, Telemundo 52. The two people aboard, both Angel City Air employees, were killed. They were identified by the station as aerial photojournalist Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, who had been flying together since 2023.

The aircraft crashed between two commercial buildings, and the impact and resulting fire damaged four nearby vehicles and two storage containers, fire officials said. Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames while paramedics began pulling victims from the wreckage for medical triage.

The helicopter had been flying over the scene of a separate crash roughly two hours earlier, in which an SUV struck the side of a Metro bus about a mile away on Nordhoff Street. The two incidents are being investigated separately.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it is leading the investigation into the helicopter crash, with an investigator expected on scene the morning of September 16. The Federal Aviation Administration is also involved. Authorities have not said what caused the aircraft to go down.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, speaking near the scene Tuesday night, called it "a heartbreaking night for our city." California Governor Gavin Newsom also offered condolences and thanked first responders in a statement.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

What to Do After a Fatal Helicopter Crash in California

A helicopter crash into a commercial area raises questions that a typical car accident does not. Federal investigators control much of the evidence, and the people affected are not always inside the aircraft.

Who may be liable for a helicopter crash like this one?

Liability depends on what investigators find. Depending on the cause, responsibility can fall on the aircraft operator, a maintenance provider, or the manufacturer of a defective part. Mechanical failure, maintenance history, and pilot actions are all areas the NTSB typically examines.

What about the person killed on the ground?

California law does not require someone to be a passenger to bring a claim. A bystander struck by falling aircraft or debris may have a claim against the aircraft operator and any other party investigators find responsible, separate from any claim connected to those who were aboard.

Does a federal investigation replace a civil claim?

No. The NTSB investigation determines probable cause for aviation safety purposes. A family's civil claim is a separate process and does not have to wait for the NTSB's findings, though the eventual report can become useful evidence.

What evidence matters most right now?

Aircraft maintenance and inspection logs, the helicopter's flight and mechanical history, air traffic and dispatch communications, and witness video of the crash and the moments before it. Much of this evidence is controlled by the aircraft operator, which is a reason to act quickly.

What is the filing deadline?

Personal injury claims in California must generally be filed within two years of the incident (CCP § 335.1). Wrongful death claims must also generally be filed within two years of the date of death (CCP § 377.60). Both deadlines fall on September 15, 2028 for this crash.

Contact Our Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorneys

A family in the Valley is grieving someone who was simply on the ground when a helicopter came down, through no action of their own. Two more families are mourning a journalist and a pilot who went up to do their jobs and did not come home.

Our Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers have recovered a $5 million wrongful death settlement and handle cases where a federal agency's investigation runs alongside a family's own claim, including aviation and commercial incidents.

Maintenance records and flight logs can be difficult to obtain once an operator's own investigation and insurance process begin, so preserving them early matters. We work to secure that evidence while the NTSB's inquiry is still underway.

You pay nothing to talk with us and nothing at all unless we recover money for you.

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Talk to a Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorney at (866) 836-6588

If you lost someone in this crash, or believe you or a family member were affected on the ground, we will review what's known so far with you in English or Spanish, at no cost, and explain your options going forward.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.