A tragic incident unfolded in Simi Valley, California, on Saturday afternoon when a small aircraft tragically crashed into a residential area, claiming the lives of two individuals and a dog aboard, while also causing structural damage to two homes.
Emergency services promptly responded to the scene, and the police established a perimeter around the affected area, advising residents to maintain a safe distance. From afar, smoke could be seen billowing from one of the homes involved in the accident, located in the Wood Ranch neighborhood roughly 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
Debris from the crash was found lodged between two neighboring houses. The Ventura County Fire Department confirmed that despite the presence of residents at the time of the incident, they successfully evacuated without any injuries. Both residences suffered structural damage and were substantially affected by the ensuing fire. An estimated 40 firefighters tackled the blaze and proceeded to salvage operations once the flames were extinguished.
Initially, authorities reported one fatality. However, later on Saturday, the Simi Valley Police Department announced that the pilot, a passenger, and a dog aboard the aircraft perished in the crash.
By Sunday, officials had yet to disclose details about the occupants of the aircraft, which was identified as a single-engine Van’s RV-10, a model commonly purchased as a home-built kit. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Arman Hovakemian, whose home was struck by the aircraft in its backyard and dining room, recounted the harrowing experience. Engaged in yard work at the time, Hovakemian noticed the plane hovering above, descending ominously closer. He rushed inside to alert his wife, Armineh, and their dog, Koko, enabling their swift escape. Moments later, he heard a deafening crash and realized the aircraft fuselage landed where he had stood just seconds before.
“I’m numb. It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Hovakemian expressed amidst the hubbub of firefighters and officers surrounding his property. “We’re fortunate we were able to get out.”
Security footage reviewed by neighbors depicted the plane circling perilously near homes for nearly three minutes. Another video captured the aircraft ascending sharply into the clouds only to plummet again. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was on-site Saturday, with spokesperson Peter Knudson detailing that the plane’s wreckage would be documented and relocated to a secure facility for in-depth analysis.
Investigators are set to examine the aircraft’s maintenance logs, weather conditions at the time, any air traffic communication records, witness testimonies, the pilot’s credentials, and possible surveillance footage. This investigation follows a similar incident involving another Van’s RV-10, which crashed in January into a building in Fullerton, southeast of Los Angeles, causing multiple casualties and injuries. Preliminary findings at the time suggested the aircraft might have had a door ajar during flight.
The NTSB anticipates that weeks might pass before initial findings regarding the Simi Valley crash are available, with a comprehensive report expected several months later.