Small plane crashes into California neighborhood, killing two people and a dog
The crash, involving a single-engine Vans RV-10 aircraft, occurred around 2 pm in the 200 block of High Meadow Street, about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
The home-built plane had departed from William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster and was headed to Camarillo Airport when it crashed.
The FAA initially reported only the pilot was onboard, but police later confirmed that two people died, along with the dog. The victims' identities have not been released.
Witnesses said the plane was circling above the neighborhood and appeared to be 'flying on its side' before crashing into one home.
'There was another two minutes of this thing flying around... it was wobbling and just barely made it over the hill,' one witness told ABC7.
The second home involved in the crash sustained less damage, though both properties were affected by fire.
The Ventura County Fire Department confirmed the residents inside both homes evacuated without injury.
The crash, involving a Vans RV-10 - a home-built, single-engine aircraft - occurred around 2 pm in the 200 block of High Meadow Street, about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles
One homeowner, Arman Hovakemian, described the terrifying moment the plane crashed.
'I came in to the patio door to warn her, and then I heard the bang, then I turned around, she was almost out,' Hovakemian said.
His family's Ring camera captured an explosion and flames from the back of their home.
Hovakemian told ABC7 that he quickly grabbed a hose to try to extinguish the flames.
'I saw the fire on the plane, and then I saw the fire on the house. I kept the hose on the plane, and then it just exploded,' he said.
'I needed to back away because I could smell a lot of gas and fuel.'
Firefighters had to cut through the Hovakemian's roof to access the flames, noting extensive damage to the back of the Wood Ranch community home.
Authorities scanned the scene for a risk of hazardous materials which could cause further damage to the already chaotic scene, however, Andrew Dowd of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, determined there was no threat.
'There's no apparent jet fuel. When firefighters arrive on scene for something like this, one of the things they want to try to determine is, do we have potential for a hazardous materials incident, significant fuel spill, something like that,' Dowd said.
'With this type of small, fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft, the determination was made that we didn't have a significant hazardous materials risk.'
About 40 firefighters responded to the crash, and local police closed streets around the area.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, reviewing flight records, maintenance logs, weather conditions, and air traffic communications.
'When you have visibility like it is today, it's always a concern. I don't know... it's way, way too early in this investigation for any of that to be factored in,' a law enforcement officer said at the scene.
NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson said once the wreckage of the plane is documented, it will be moved to a secure facility for further evaluation.
As part of the ongoing FAA and NTSB investigation, the Hovakemian's home has been red-taped, meaning they won't be allowed back inside anytime soon.
The FAA issued the following statement: 'A Vans RV-10 crashed near High Meadow Street and Wood Ranch Parkway in Simi Valley, California, around 2:10 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 3. The pilot was alone on board. The plane departed from William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster and was heading to Camarillo Airport. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates.'
The horrifying crash mirrors a similar incident earlier this year in Fullerton, where a Van's RV-10 suffered mechanical failure, killing the pilot and his daughter while injuring 19 others.
The NTSB's preliminary report in that case suggested the plane's door may have been improperly secured.
A preliminary report on the Simi Valley crash could take weeks to release, with a final report expected months later, the Associated Press reported.
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