Aircraft Accident in Simi Valley: Pilot Perishes as Plane Strikes Residential Buildings; Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board Launch Probe
In the traffic-calm residential neighborhood of Simi Valley, a little airplane swept through two ordinary houses on a Saturday afternoon, shattering tranquility and taking the pilot's life while sparking an inferno. Miraculously, no one on the ground was harmed. The crashing aircraft was a Vans RV-10, plummeting at about 2:10 PM PT onto High Meadow Street's 200 block, just off Wood Ranch Parkway, as confirmed by the Simi Valley Police Department.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot—still unnamed—was the sole occupant on board. This aircraft embarked from William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster and was heading to Camarillo Airport.
"The homes, both two-story, well-loved dwellings, tackled the fire's attack and endured structural harm," the Ventura County Fire Department announced on their social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). Valiantly, firefighters were able to douse the flames consistently throughout the evening, resuming salvage efforts as the blaze subsided.
Using the shorthand #meadowincident, the VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) tweeted, "A small, single-engine fixed-wing aircraft has crashed into two structures in the Wood Ranch area of Simi Valley... [link to photo evidence]" on May 3, 2025.
Authorities aided evacuation of the battered residences, as people huddled inside, but fortunately, all occupants sustained no injuries. Social media posts shared footage of substantial smoke billowing from the crash site and a flurry of emergency responders and equipment scurrying about the homes involved.
In the aftermath, Wood Ranch Parkway and High Meadow Street were sealed off as authorities launched an investigation into the crash's origin. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently teaming up to delve into the incident.
As of the latest updates, the NTSB is spearheading the probe, with the FAA offering support. Although no preliminary findings have emerged, officials are looking into factors such as the weather (overcast and misty) to determine potential causes. However, it remains too early for definitive conclusions. The crash site's remnants, including scraps and a tire, are still under investigation.
As of yet, neither specific mechanical problems nor a concrete summary of the crash's causes have surfaced. Keep watching this space for updates.
- The small, single-engine fixed-wing aircraft that impacted two structures in the Wood Ranch area of Simi Valley on May 3, 2025, was a Vans RV-10, as confirmed by the Simi Valley Police Department.
- The VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) tweeted using the shorthand #meadowincident, announcing the crash and sharing a link to photo evidence.
- The NTSB is currently investigating the crash, with the FAA offering support, and they are looking into factors such as the weather to determine potential causes.
- Officials have not yet released any specific mechanical problems or a concrete summary of the crash's causes, but they continue to investigate the remnants of the crash site, including scraps and a tire.
