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Small plane crashes into Los Angeles-area neighborhood, 1 person dead

Published: 04 May. 2025, 14:02

Firefighters work at the site of a plane crash in the Wood Ranch section of Simi Valley, California, on May 3. [AP/YONHAP]

A small plane crashed into a neighborhood in Simi Valley on Saturday afternoon, killing a person aboard the aircraft and damaging two homes, authorities said.

Fire crews responded, and police cordoned off the streets, warning people to stay clear of the area. Smoke could be seen billowing from the roof of one home in the Wood Ranch section of the community, which lies nearly 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Wreckage could be seen between the two homes. The Ventura County Fire Department confirmed that residents were inside at the time but said they evacuated with no reported injuries. Both homes sustained structural damage and were impacted by the fire, authorities said.

About 40 firefighters were on scene. With the flames out, they began working on salvage.

Authorities did not release any information about the pilot of the single-engine Van's RV-10, which is a popular home-built airplane sold in kit form. They also did not say what might have caused the crash.

An investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board also was on the scene Saturday. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) spokesperson Peter Knudson said once the wreckage of the plane is documented, it will be moved to a secure facility for further evaluation.

Investigators also will be combing through the plane's maintenance records, weather forecasts, recordings of any air traffic control communications, witness statements, the pilot's background and any surveillance video that might have captured the aircraft.

In January, another Van's RV-10 crashed into a warehouse in Fullerton, which is southeast of Los Angeles, while trying to make an emergency landing, killing the pilot and his teen daughter and injuring 19 people in the building. A preliminary report issued by the NTSB said that plane appeared to have had a door ajar during flight.

It will likely be weeks before the NTSB releases preliminary findings on the Simi Valley crash. A final report comes months later.

AP