FULLERTON, Calif. — A recent preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that a homebuilt airplane that crashed into a warehouse in California earlier this month may have had an open door during its flight.
The Van’s RV-10 aircraft attempted an emergency landing shortly after taking off on January 2 from Fullerton Municipal Airport, located south of Los Angeles. Tragically, the incident claimed the lives of the pilot and his teenage daughter, while resulting in injuries to 19 individuals within a nearby furniture manufacturing facility.
The report, made available Wednesday, noted that the aircraft’s door, which opens upwards, had been modified in a way that interfered with a warning system designed to notify the pilot of its status.
Investigative findings are based on witness accounts and video footage from a vehicle’s dashcam, recorded shortly before the crash. The NTSB generally releases its preliminary evaluations within a few weeks following such occurrences, with a comprehensive report to be published months later.
One observer at the airport recounted that the airplane appeared to be flying at an unexpectedly low altitude given its distance down the runway. This witness reported noticing the left door of the aircraft was open, adding that he observed an arm reaching up to pull it down. However, at that point, the plane was too far away for him to see clearly what was happening.
Other witnesses from different locations described the airplane flying unusually low and making abrupt turns to the left, raising concerns that it might face a stall. They recounted that the aircraft suddenly rolled to the right, the nose dipped, and it plummeted towards the warehouse, crashing into it with a significant fireball. Just prior to impact, some witnesses claimed to have seen a white, panel-like object detach and fall away from the airplane.
In the moments immediately following takeoff, the pilot communicated to the air traffic control tower that he needed to land right away. Initially, he expressed an intention to land on Runway 6, to which the air traffic controller replied that both that runway and Runway 24 were free. The pilot opted for Runway 24, but shortly after, sounds of panic, including gasping and an exclaimed “Oh my God,” were captured before the audio transmission ceased.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot requested to return to the airport when flying at approximately 900 feet (274 meters). The crash occurred about 1,000 feet (305 meters) short of Runway 24, impacting a large warehouse owned by Michael Nicholas Designs.
Both the pilot, Pascal Reid, and his 16-year-old daughter Kelly, tragically lost their lives in the incident. Eleven individuals on the ground were transported to hospitals, while eight others were treated at the scene, with injury severity ranging from minor to critical.
The Van’s RV-10 is a widely recognized homebuilt aircraft that is available in kit form. Investigators confirmed that Reid was the owner of the plane, which was constructed in 2011.