A small plane crashed through the roof of a commercial building just east of Fullerton Airport Thursday, sparking a fire in the structure and leaving two people dead and another 19 injured.
The crash occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the 2300 block of Raymer Avenue, according to the Fullerton Police Department, which responded to the scene with Fullerton and Orange County Fire Authority crews and worked to evacuate the building.
NBC4 reported that the building struck was Michael Nicholas Design Factory, a furniture warehouse at 2330 Raymer Ave. The station cited the business owner in saying that all his employees were evacuated and accounted for. Video from the scene showed a gaping hole in the building’s roof where the plane struck it.
Fire crews and paramedics assembled nearby to treat potential victims.
Ten of the injured victims taken to area hospitals and the rest were treated on scene, said Kristy Wells of the Fullerton Police Department. The injuries were not considered life-threatening.
It was not clear if the fatalities included the plane’s pilot, Wells said.
It was unclear if any more people were in the building, but it appears everyone was able to get out, Wells said.
A Fullerton Police Department lieutenant told NBC4 at the scene that the airplane, which had taken off from Fullerton Airport and was returning to land at the airfield when it crashed, was a homemade four-seater. It was unclear how many people were aboard.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that it was a single-engine Van’s Aircraft RV-10 that crashed. The National Transportation Safety Board later said the plane was built in 2011. The NTSB will investigate the cause of the crash with the FAA.
In a news briefing later Thursday, Eliott Simpson, an investigator with the NTSB, said the plane was flying under “visual flight rules,” with no requirement for a flight plan. He said weather did not appear to be any factor in the crash.
Simpson added that the NTSB’s preliminary report would be completed within 14 days, with the final report taking 12 to 18 months.
The building was red-tagged and sustained significant damage from both the crash and the resultant fire, according to Fullerton fire officials.
“Today, our community faced a tragic incident when an experimental aircraft crashed into an industrial building near the Fullerton Airport,” the Fullerton City Council said in a statement.
“In the midst of this solemn tragedy, we are profoundly grateful to the first responders who acted with courage and unwavering dedication to protect lives and assist those in need. We deeply acknowledge the efforts of the Fullerton Police and Fire Departments, along with the Buena Park Police, La Habra Police, BNSF Police, Cal State Fullerton University Police, Brea Fire, Anaheim Fire, Huntington Beach Fire, and the Orange County Fire Authority.”
Mayor Fred Jung also praised the first responders.
“Your extraordinary efforts remind us of the strength and resilience of our community. As we come together in the wake of this tragedy, the City of Fullerton is committed to providing support for all those affected and working with the agencies involved to uncover the details of this incident,” he said.
“We are grateful for the strength of our community and the compassion we show one another in times of crisis. Together, we will move forward with resolve, care, and unity.”
In November, a single-engine plane crashed in the 2400 block of Artesia Avenue, also just east of Fullerton Airport, leaving the two people aboard with moderate injuries. That plane also crashed while trying to land at the airport.