A small private plane made a hard landing Sunday after reporting a mechanical failure, the Riverside Police Department announced.
The report of a plane down was made around 10:10 a.m. in a field north of Gaylord Street and Stover Avenue in Riverside. According to the Riverside Fire Department, the plane landed approximately 500 feet from any homes or roads.
Three occupants were on board, and were all out of the plane walking around when firefighters arrived. Two of the passengers suffered minor injuries, and one was taken to a hospital by ground ambulance for further evaluation, according to the fire department.
The pilot reported that the plane quickly began having engine trouble as soon as he took off from the Riverside Airport, but he was not able to safely return to the airport and had to perform an emergency landing in the field.
The plane sustained significant damage, according to the fire department.
The RFD and Riverside Municipal Airport notified the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. The owner was arranging to have the plane removed and relocated to a hangar in Chino, where the NTSB will conduct an investigation.
Police advised the public to avoid the area until the plane was removed and the investigation concludes.