Plane crashes in Simi Valley, pilot killed in residential area
On Saturday in Simi Valley, California, a tragic aviation accident occurred when a single-engine Vans RV-10 plane crashed into a residential area. The pilot died at the scene, and the aircraft damaged two buildings.
What do you need to know?
- Where and when did the accident happen? The accident took place on Saturday afternoon in Simi Valley, California, approximately 96 kilometres from Los Angeles. The incident occurred at about 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
- What were the consequences of the crash? The pilot died, and two residential buildings were damaged. Fortunately, the residents managed to evacuate safely.
- Who is investigating the causes of the accident? The investigation is being conducted by experts from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
How did the crash happen?
On Saturday afternoon, a single-engine Vans RV-10 plane crashed into a residential area in Simi Valley, California. According to the Associated Press, fire department units quickly arrived at the scene, and the police secured the area.
"The pilot died, and two residential buildings were damaged," media reported. The plane took off from William J. Fox Airport in Lancaster. Its destination was the airport in Camarillo.
What do we know about the plane and the pilot?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the pilot was the only person on board. The Vans RV-10 model is popular as a kit for self-assembly, which means that many are built in home garages.
The Ventura County Fire Department in a release stated that residents of both damaged buildings were able to evacuate and did not sustain any injuries.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the pilot's identity nor speculated on the causes of the crash. The investigation is being conducted by experts from the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
String of aviation accidents in the USA
This incident marks yet another recent aviation disaster in the USA. In January, there was a mid-air collision between a PSA Airlines passenger plane and a VH-60M Blackhawk military helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, resulting in 67 deaths.
In February, a Bering Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX plane went missing over Norton Sound in Alaska, claiming the lives of the 10 people on board. In the same month, two small planes collided mid-air near an airport in Arizona, resulting in the death of two people.
In March, a tourist helicopter crashed into the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, killing six people. Meanwhile, an American Airlines plane caught fire after landing in Denver, causing 12 passengers to be hospitalized with injuries.
