Plane crashes into Los Angeles-area community, killing 2 people and a dog – Country

A small plane crashed Saturday afternoon in a community in the Simi Valley, California, killing two people and a dog and damaging two homes.

Firefighters responded, and police blocked the streets and warned people to stay away from the area. Smoke can be seen rolling on the roof of a house in the Wood Ranch area, a neighborhood nearly 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles.

The wreckage can be seen between the two houses. The Ventura County Fire Department confirmed that residents were inside at the time, but said they had no reports of injuries when they evacuated. Authorities say both homes suffered structural damage and were affected by the fire.

There were about 40 firefighters at the scene. With the flames, they started salvage work.

Officials initially reported one death. The pilot, a passenger and a dog were dead late Saturday, the Simi Valley Police Department said.

As of Sunday, authorities have not released any information about the crew of the single-engine van RV-10, a favorite homemade aircraft sold in kit form. They also did not say what might have caused the crash.

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Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Commission were also on the scene Saturday. NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said once the plane's wreckage is recorded, it will be moved to a safe facility for further evaluation.

Investigators will also comb through the aircraft's maintenance records, weather forecasts, records of any air traffic control communications, witness reports, pilot's background, and any surveillance video that may capture the aircraft.

In January, another van's RV-10 crashed in a warehouse in Fullerton, southeastern Los Angeles, while attempting to make an emergency landing, killing the pilot and his teenage daughter, and injuring 19 people in the building. The preliminary report from the NTSB said the plane appeared to have a door during the flight.

The NTSB may be weeks before the initial discovery is released in the Simi Valley crash. Final report a few months later.

& Copy 2025 Canadian Press