Pilot’s frantic landing effort ends in fatal crash in Southern California, claiming two lives

LOS ANGELES — A small aircraft attempted an emergency landing shortly after takeoff before crashing through the rooftop of a building in Southern California, as captured in alarming air traffic control audio featuring panicked sounds and a female voice exclaiming, “Oh my God,” just before the plane went down.

On Thursday, the incident resulted in two fatalities and left 19 individuals injured. Federal Aviation Administration records indicate the aircraft belonged to Pascal Reid from Huntington Beach, California. The Huntington Beach High School girls’ soccer team shared on Instagram Friday that Reid and his daughter, Kelly, who was a student at the school, perished in the crash.

“Yesterday our soccer family experienced an unimaginable loss,” their post expressed. “Kelly was a natural caregiver who always prioritized others above herself. She will be profoundly missed. Her father was present at every game; he took immense pride in her achievements.”

As of now, the coroner’s office has not officially confirmed the identities of the deceased nor stated whether they were on the aircraft.

The plane had just taken off from Fullerton Municipal Airport when the pilot signaled the air traffic control tower, declaring an urgent need to land. Initially, the pilot intended to land on Runway 6, but after being directed to divert, he opted for Runway 24 instead. Shortly after communicating this, panicked gasping was recorded along with the alarming exclamation just before the audio abruptly ended.

According to investigators, the plane requested to return to the airport at an altitude of approximately 900 feet (274 meters). Unfortunately, it crashed about 1,000 feet (305 meters) short of Runway 24, impacting a large furniture manufacturing facility owned by Michael Nicholas Designs.

A preliminary report from the FAA classified the crash as occurring under “unknown circumstances.” Emergency responders stated that eleven injured individuals were taken to hospitals, and eight were treated at the scene. The range of injuries varied from minor to severe, as noted by Michael Meacham, deputy chief of fire operations in Fullerton.

Surveillance footage from Rucci Forged, a wheel manufacturing company located across the street, captured the plane tilting to one side before diving into the building, resulting in a fiery explosion accompanied by a significant plume of black smoke.

Airport operations personnel reported that Reid was a frequent presence at the airport, having his own hangar and regularly taking off from Fullerton. The FAA identified the aircraft as a single-engine, four-seat Van’s RV-10, a well-known homebuilt plane available in kit form. Investigators revealed the aircraft was constructed in 2011.

Aviation enthusiast Tim Olson, who had previously purchased the RV-10 kit, described Reid in emails exchanged over the years as a “diligent and responsible” pilot and aircraft builder. Olson remarked on the popularity of the RV-10 as an “easy-to-build” plane from a reputable manufacturer, and he personally has logged over 1,500 flight hours on his own aircraft, having traveled extensively with it.

“It’s incredibly sad to learn that it ended like this for him,” Olson lamented. “From our conversations, I knew he was an avid traveler who frequently camped out with his plane.”

Kelly Reid was acknowledged on school sports websites as a junior at Huntington Beach High School, where she participated in flag football, soccer, and lacrosse.

The Fullerton airport features one runway and a heliport and is located near a residential area and various commercial buildings. The nearby Metrolink regional train line runs alongside.

The Fullerton City Council released a statement on social media describing the incident as a “solemn tragedy.” Mayor Fred Jung emphasized the city’s commitment to supporting those affected and collaborating with agencies to investigate the details surrounding the event. “We appreciate the strength of our community and the compassion we display in challenging times,” he stated in his remarks.

In a similar incident, another four-seat aircraft crashed into a tree a half-mile (0.8 kilometers) from the same airport last November while attempting an emergency landing shortly after takeoff. Both occupants of that plane sustained moderate injuries.

Fullerton is a city with a population of approximately 140,000, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles.