Local News
Pilot and his teen daughter killed as plane hits SoCal warehouse in Fullerton, injuring 19 people
The aircraft involved was identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a single-engine Van’s RV-10, a four-seat, kit-built plane constructed in 2011.
A tragic plane crash near Fullerton Municipal Airport on Thursday claimed the lives of two individuals and left 19 others injured after a small aircraft slammed into a warehouse, igniting a massive fire.
Authorities confirmed that the pilot and his 16-year-old daughter were killed in the crash. Their identities have not yet been released.
The crash occurred just after 2:00 PM when the single-engine Van’s RV-10 aircraft struck a furniture warehouse located in the 2300 block of Raymer Avenue.
Witnesses reported seeing the plane dive into the building, tilted on its side, followed by a fiery explosion and a towering plume of thick black smoke visible from miles away.
Emergency personnel from the Fullerton Fire Department and Police Department quickly arrived on the scene.
The resulting four-alarm fire prompted the evacuation of dozens of workers from the warehouse. Firefighters battled the intense flames, eventually extinguishing the blaze.
According to Michael Meacham, spokesperson for the Fullerton Fire Department, 19 people sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe.
Of those injured, 11 were transported to local hospitals, while the remaining eight were treated at the scene and released.
One video captured during the incident showed a person running from the burning building with their arm engulfed in flames.
Security footage captured the horrifying moment when the aircraft collided with the building, causing a fiery explosion. The footage shows the plane descending rapidly and striking the warehouse at an angle.
The aircraft involved was identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a single-engine Van’s RV-10, a four-seat, kit-built plane constructed in 2011.
Eliot Simpson, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), provided preliminary details on the crash trajectory.
The plane took off from Runway 24 at Fullerton at approximately 2:07 PM.
Shortly after reaching an altitude of 900 feet, the pilot issued a distress call requesting an immediate return to the airport.
Air traffic control cleared the pilot to land on any runway.
The plane attempted a 180-degree turn but crashed approximately 1,000 feet short of Runway 24.
Simpson stated that the NTSB will release a preliminary report within 14 days, with a final report expected within 12 to 18 months.
The FAA and NTSB are leading the investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Early findings indicate that the plane caught fire immediately upon impact with the building.
This tragic incident has raised questions about air safety in the vicinity of the airport and the potential risks posed to densely populated areas nearby. Authorities continue to work diligently to uncover the factors contributing to this devastating event.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. — Tragedy struck early Sunday morning when a house fire claimed the lives of four family members in Gaffney, South Carolina.
Officials say the blaze broke out inside a one-story wood-frame home on East Third Street shortly before 1:40 a.m.
According to the Cherokee County Coroner’s Office, one resident, identified as Kathy Shippy, managed to escape the burning home and ran across the street to alert a neighbor and call 911.
Surveillance footage from the neighbor’s doorbell camera captured the home already fully engulfed in flames by the time the call was made.
Coroner Dennis Fowler identified the victims as:
- Willie Morris, 38
- Dakeyia Shippy, 25
- Mason Issac, 4
- Jerekry McGill, 7 months
All were residents of the home and relatives of the survivor.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire began after Morris attempted to refuel a kerosene heater inside the home, which caused the blaze to ignite suddenly and spread rapidly.
“All four victims were found on the floor of the kitchen at the rear of the house and appeared to have been trying to escape through a window when they were overcome by smoke,” the coroner’s office reported.
Autopsies are scheduled to determine the precise causes of death and assist investigators in confirming the fire’s origin.
Gaffney Fire Chief Jamie Caggiano urged the public to use extreme caution when operating space or kerosene heaters.
“Never attempt to refuel a heater indoors or while it is still hot,” Chief Caggiano said, emphasizing fire safety during colder months.
The incident remains under joint investigation by the Gaffney Fire Marshal’s Office, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Authorities described the loss as “heartbreaking” and extended condolences to the family and community members affected by the tragedy.