STORY: :: Authorities report two deaths and 20 injuries on the plane

crashes into a warehouse in Southern California

:: January 3, 2025

:: Michael Meacham, Assistant City Manager for the City of Fullerton

“The aircraft took off from runway two four at Fullerton at approximately 2 p.m. this afternoon and climbed straight to approximately 900 feet. And a short time later, the pilot requested an immediate return to the airport. The air traffic controller then cleared the pilot to land.” On any runway, the aircraft then appeared to make a 180 degree left turn and flew left toward runway two, four, then eventually crashed about 1,000 feet short of runway two, four, crashed into a furniture building and crashed immediately. It caught fire. So far we have two confirmed fatalities, but we have no names or identification.

“We will of course look at the rubble on site at the factory tomorrow and document as much as possible. We will walk around and try to take video footage and talk to witnesses.” We extract the electronic data that is on board and then remove it from there. And we will have a much more forensic investigator in a remote facility.”

The aircraft, a single-engine Van’s RV-10, hit the warehouse at 2:15 p.m. local time (22:15 GMT), causing a fire and significant damage to the building. Elliot Simpson, an accident investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), provided details of the incident during a press conference.

“The aircraft was a 2011 Van’s Aircraft RV-10 kit, registration number N8757R. It is a four-seat, single-engine, aluminum aircraft based at Fullerton Airport,” Simpson said. “The aircraft departed runway two four at Fullerton at approximately 2 p.m., climbed to approximately 900 feet and a short time later the pilot requested an immediate return to the airport.”

The aircraft then made a 180 degree left turn, flew left downwind toward runways two and four and crashed approximately 1,000 feet short of the runway, striking a furniture building and immediately catching fire. “We have two confirmed fatalities, but we have no names or identification. The coroner will be able to tell us at some point,” Simpson added.