Fatal plane crash in Simi Valley: Pilot killed, houses hit
On Saturday in Simi Valley, California, a tragic aviation incident occurred. A single-engine Vans RV-10 aircraft crashed into a residential area. The pilot perished at the scene, and the aeroplane 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.
- What were the consequences of the crash? The pilot died, and two residential buildings were damaged. Fortunately, the residents managed to evacuate.
- Who is investigating the causes of the accident? The incident is being investigated 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 aircraft fell onto a residential area in Simi Valley, California. As reported by 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," the media reported. The plane took off from William J. Fox Airport in Lancaster, and 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, meaning that many are constructed in home garages.
According to the Ventura County Fire Department, residents of both damaged buildings were able to evacuate and did not sustain any injuries.
Authorities have not 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 is 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 fatalities.
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. Two people died.
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 hospitalised with injuries.
