Two individuals and a canine perished following a small-plane tragedy in Simi Valley
Title: Crash of a Homebuilt Plane Leaves Three Dead in Simi Valley
In an unsettling incident, a small plane — a Vans RV-10, a fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft — crashed into a residential area of Simi Valley on a Saturday afternoon, killing three individuals and causing damage to two homes.
The tragic event transpired around 2 p.m. on the 200 block of High Meadow Street in the Wood Ranch area, as per authorities. Initially, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) asserted that the plane was carrying only the pilot. However, subsequent investigations by local law enforcement disclosed that there were indeed two passengers, in addition to a canine that perished.
The plane departed from William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster, bound for Camarillo Airport, according to the FAA. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA have joined forces to inspect the crash site and determine the cause of the unfortunate accident.
Arman and Armineh Hovakemian were the homeowners who endured the harrowing experience of the plane crashing in their backyard and dining room. Arman Hovakemian recollected that he was gardening when he heard the plane flying low overhead. Fearing the worst, he rushed inside to secure his wife and their Pomeranian dog, Koko. A loud explosion followed, with the fuselage landing where he had been just moments prior.
The odor of gas filled the air, and their home caught fire shortly afterward. The couple and their neighbors promptly evacuated the premises as firefighters and police took control of the scene. Arman Hovakemian confessed to being overwhelmed by the ordeal, while expressing gratitude for their own safety.
A video surveillance recording from a neighbor showed the plane circling the area for nearly three minutes prior to impact and piercing the tranquility of the neighborhood. In another footage, the plane is observed ascending sharply into the sky before plummeting once more.
The residence of P.J. Van Kralingen and his wife, Iris, was the second home impacted by the crash. The couple was abroad at the Getty Center when they received disturbing news about the incident. Sadly, two of their dogs managed to escape during the chaos and have yet to be found. Despite the devastating circumstances, P.J. Van Kralingen expressed relief that no one was harmed in their home at the time.
The identities of the deceased individuals have yet to be released by authorities. Witnesses of the open-sky drama describe the plane's erratic and spiraling movements in the final moments before impact.
Enrichment data:
- The latest updates on the Simi Valley plane crash disclose that there were three fatalities, including the pilot, a passenger, and a pet dog.
- The joint investigations by the NTSB and FAA are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.
- The aircraft departed from William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster en route to Camarillo Airport.
- Aerial footage revealed debris scattered between homes and structural damage, including a roof collapse at one residence.
- Eyewitnesses reported the plane spiraling low prior to impact, with one resident describing a "massive fireball" post-crash.
- The tragic plane crash in Simi Valley, California, happened on a Saturday afternoon, causing the death of three individuals, including a passenger and a pet dog, and damaging two homes on the 200 block of High Meadow Street in the Wood Ranch area.
- Residents in California, such as Arman and Armineh Hovakemian, experienced a terrifying incident when a small aircraft crashed into their backyard and dining room.
- In another residence near Kralingen, P.J. Van Kralingen and his wife were away at the Getty Center when their property was impacted by the plane crash.
- The General News section recently reported on a homebuilt aircraft crash in Simi Valley, California, leaving three dead, with the plane having departed from William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster and bound for Camarillo Airport.
- Los Angeles witnessed a tragic aircraft accident in Simi Valley, California, where a Vans RV-10 aircraft spiraled low before crashing into a residential area, resulting in three fatalities and causing damage to two homes.
