Dramatic Video: Bystanders Rescue Calif. Pilot Who Crashed Into Backyard

Just a day after one small personal jet crashed on the street of a residential community in Germany, now a light plane has crashed into the backyard of a house in Santa Monica. As if that wasn't dramatic enough, video has surfaced of the stunning rescue that ensued to save the student pilot involved in the crash. NBC and Fox have the GRAPHIC VIDEO:

Fox News reports that painters working on a near by home put out the fire with garden hoses and rescued the pilot, who miraculously survived with only a broken leg.

The Contra Costa Times was able to speak with federal investigators who are currently working to determine the cause of the crash:

"Fuel was pumped out of the downed single-engine Cessna after the accident, and the wreckage was removed from the crash site Monday night.

Allen Kenitzer of the Federal Aviation Administration said the plane crashed 'into a residential backyard under unknown circumstances' shortly after lifting off the runway

The plane first hit a cinder block wall, which helped absorb a lot of the energy of the crash, and clipped some tree branches, said Robert Trimborn of Santa Monica Airport, expressing surprise the pilot survived."

The force of the crash bent the aircraft in half and ripped the wings off the plane. MyFoxLA.com reports that the crash has rehashed local debate over possibly closing the Santa Monica airport:

The Plane crashed in a home and backyard around 2:30 p.m. Monday at 21st Street and Navy. KTLA5 reports that one person on the ground, a painter at the home at the time of the crash, was injured by flying debris.