A small aircraft crashed into a row of townhomes in Fairview, Oregon, just east of Portland, killing three individuals, the Federal Aviation Administration disclosed Tuesday. The pilot had reported experiencing “controllability” issues shortly after departing from the Troutdale Airport on a maintenance test flight. The twin-engine Cessna 421C went down about five minutes after takeoff, with two occupants onboard and one person in the townhomes losing their lives in the tragedy.
Investigator Michael Hicks from the National Transportation Safety Board stated that investigators were diligently gathering crucial evidence from the crash site. The incident significantly impacted the small city of Fairview, home to approximately 10,000 residents, causing severe damage to a row of eight townhouses. According to Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis, three townhouses were destroyed, with a fourth likely to be irreparable and the rest experiencing smoke damage. The primary impact point was the second unit in the row.
Fairview Mayor Keith Kudrna conveyed heartfelt condolences to those affected, emphasizing support for the injured, displaced, and impacted by the unfortunate event. The victims have not been officially identified yet, with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office awaiting family notifications before releasing their names. Upon reaching the crash scene, deputies found several townhomes ablaze and swiftly evacuated residents while containing the fires with garden hoses until firefighters arrived.
The plane’s crash resulted in the toppling of a pole and power lines, igniting a separate brush fire in a nearby field, as per the sheriff’s office. The aircraft broke into multiple pieces upon impact in the residential area, causing significant destruction. Troutdale Airport, managed by the Port of Portland, is described as a facility for flight training and recreational purposes. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading a thorough investigation into the incident, a process expected to take up to a year and a half to complete.
